East Bracket Second Round Pick - (6) UCLA vs. (3) Villanova

Villanova Wildcats (27-7 SU, 16-13 ATS)

NCAA Tournament (@ Philadelphia)

BetUS NCAA Basketball Odds: VILLANOVA -1.5, Total 145

Here are some of the NCAA basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* UCLA has won seven of its last eight games SU

* UCLA has covered four of its last six games

* UCLA has played four of its last six games UNDER the total

* UCLA has won six of its last nine road games SU

* UCLA is 1-4-1 ATS in its last six games

* UCLA has played five of its last six games OVER the total

* VILL has won four of its last five games SU

* VILL has covered two of its last seven games

* VILL has played three of its last four games OVER the total

* VILL has won seven of its last eight home games SU

* VILL has covered six of its last eight home games

* VILL has played four of its last five home games OVER the total

UCLA had quite a bit of anxiety before prevailing over Virginia Commonwealth in their first-round game on Thursday, and that was no accident. The Bruins, who are a young team, got five players in double figures, but also shot only 40% in a 65-64 win over VCU where they had to wish and hope for Eric Maynor to miss a shot at the buzzer.

UCLA is not shooting well at all lately. In the Villanova, which (a) is playing this game as a home team, and (b) has more experience to bring to the table. Remember that UCLA had to replace the center (Kevin Love) and second guard (Russell Westbrook) of last year's team, and have done so primarily with freshmen, while Villanova has a veteran club with all its key players back.

While UCLA lost some size in that deal where Love left for the NBA, Villanova gained some with the emergence of Dante Cunningham as more of an offensive force (16.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg). They also have balance, as they can bring three players off the bench who logged 19 minutes or more per game. The 'Cats are also balanced enough that they can win even when somebody like Scottie Reynolds, who is the team's second-leading scorer and best all-around player, can make just two field goals. Cunningham and another senior, Dwayne Anderson, had 25 points apiece as 'Nova woke up in the second half and put away pesky American (80-67).

So the Wildcats have had their scare, and that is a good and healthy thing. You've got to remember that Ben Howland's suffocating defenses at UCLA, while not a distant memory, were not in evidence this season, as his team gave up 45% shooting from the field (47% in the Pac 10). Collison is an able leader, but on an overall basis, youth works against them here. We're going to lay the points with Villanova, the 1.5-point favorite in the BetUS Sportsbook odds, and enthusiastically so.

JAY'S PLAY: VILLANOVA -1.5 ****

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)