Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Villanova vs DePaul NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Chicago.
Villanova vs DePaul Prediction
Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Wildcats and Blue Demons. The game is starting at 9:00 ET on CBSS, and it's hosted by the Blue Demons at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. Get ready to place your bets! Villanova is favored by -4.5 in this Big East conference contest against DePaul. The game's over/under currently sits at 141.5 points.
Villanova vs. DePaul Matchup At A Glance
- Sport: NCAAB
- Teams: Villanova Wildcats at DePaul Blue Demons
- Where: Chicago at Wintrust Arena
- Date: Wednesday, February 5th
- Betting Odds VILL -4.5, VILL -225 | DEPAUL +185 O/U 141.5
Wildcats Preview: Will Villanova Pull Through as the Favored Road Team?
Villanova Wildcats Recent Game/Games
Villanova's season record dropped to 12-10 after a narrow 62-60 home loss to Creighton on Saturday. The Wildcats, who were -2 favorites, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.
After a 29-29 first half, Villanova was edged out 33-31 in the second half. The total points for the game were 122, falling short of the 143.5 O/U line.
Wildcats Offense Breakdown
Villanova struggled offensively in their last game, scoring just 60 points with a field goal percentage of 39.7%. Their effective field goal percentage was 41.4%, and they connected on only 3 of 17 three-point attempts, shooting 17.6% from beyond the arc. They did excel at the free-throw line, hitting 11 of 12 attempts for a 91.7% success rate.
Offensive rebounding was also an issue, as the Wildcats grabbed just 3 boards on that end. They finished with 7 assists as a team. Wooga Poplar led the way with 24 points, shooting 58.8% from the field, while Ryan Kalkbrenner added 22 points, hitting 81.8% of his shots.
Wildcats Team Defense
Villanova's defense held their opponent to just 62 points on 39% shooting from the field. They were particularly effective from beyond the arc, limiting their opponent to 17% shooting, with only 3 made threes on 17 attempts.
Inside the arc, Villanova's opponent shot 48%, converting 20 of 41 two-point attempts. From the free-throw line, they went 11/12, hitting 91% of their free throws. Villanova also controlled the boards, allowing just 3 offensive rebounds.
Blue Demons Preview: Can the Blue Demons Hold Strong at Home?
DePaul Blue Demons Recent Game/Games
DePaul improved to 11-12 on the season with a 74-57 win over Seton Hall on Sunday, February 2nd. Playing at home, the Blue Demons entered the game as 5-point favorites and covered the spread with the victory.
DePaul led 38-29 at halftime and continued their strong play in the 2nd half, outscoring Seton Hall 36-28. The total points for the game were 131, falling short of the 135.5 O/U line.
Blue Demons Offense Breakdown
DePaul's offense shined in their last game, shooting 55.3% from the field and posting an effective field goal percentage of 63.8%. They hit 68% of their two-point attempts and 40.9% from beyond the arc, while also converting 86.7% of their free throws. The Blue Demons dished out 17 assists and grabbed 10 offensive rebounds, finishing with 74 points.
Isaiah Coleman led DePaul with 18 points, despite shooting just 30% overall and 28.6% from three. NJ Benson added 17 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 61.5% from the field. CJ Gunn contributed 16 points, while Isaiah Rivera hit 4 of 6 threes, finishing with 14 points.
Blue Demons Team Defense
Despite DePaul's defensive struggles, they held their opponent to just 57 points. The Blue Demons allowed a 55% shooting performance, with their opponent hitting 26 of 47 shots.
DePaul's defense gave up 17 two-pointers on 25 attempts (68%) and 9 threes on 22 attempts (40%). They also sent their opponent to the line 15 times, where they made 13 free throws (86%).
Wildcats vs Blue Demons Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis
- Across their ten previous road games, Villanova has an ATS mark of 3-7. Their straight up record in these matchups was 2-8 while averaging 72 points per game.
- Although DePaul has a straight up record of 1-9 in their last ten home games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 4-6. The team averaged 64 points per game in these games.
- In their last five games as the betting underdog, the Blue Demons have a straight up record of 1-4 and an ATS mark of 3-2.
- As the betting favorite, the Wildcats have an ATS mark of just 0-3 in their last three games. Villanova posted a straight up mark of 1-2 in these matchups.
Villanova vs DePaul Prediction & Free Pick
- KnupSports.com Free Betting Prediction: DePaul +4.5 Be sure to check out our other NCAA Basketball betting previews for this week. KnupSports.com also updates their sports betting picks page daily with plays across all sports.