NCAA Betting Odds: Villanova vs West Virginia

NCAA Betting Odds: West Virginia -5.5

Here are some Betting Trends which may impact this game:

• Villanova: 1-2 ATS in their last 3 games
• Villanova: 1-1 ATS as an underdog
• West Virginia: 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against Villanova
• West Virginia: Total has gone UNDER in 6 of their last 9 games
  
  

Monday, February 08: 7:00 p.m.

With football season now over, we can focus our attention solely towards basketball, as we get ready for the 2010 NCAA Tournament. There won’t be a better game in the NCAAB betting odds Monday night, then when the suddenly struggling Villanova Wildcats visit Morgantown to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers.

For Villanova, it was an awful trip to the nation’s capital last weekend, as not only was there a blizzard going on outside the Verizon Center, but inside the Georgetown Hoyas simply outplayed them. The Wildcats fell 103-90 in a game that really wasn’t as close as the final score might indicate. There is no rest for the weary though, when they visit the No. 6 team in the country.

We all know that Villanova can score (86 points per game), but for them to win Monday, they’ll need to play much better defense than they did on Saturday. In that game, Villanova allowed Georgetown to shoot a staggering 56 percent from the field, including 10-19 from the 3-point line. The Wildcats also committed entirely too many fouls, as Georgetown shot 50- yes 50- foul shots in the game.

As for their opponents Monday night, West Virginia has quietly hid in the shadows of Villanova, Syracuse and Georgetown in Big East action, and is putting together a phenomenal season of their own. Defensively, they’re one of the best teams in college basketball, allowing opponents just 61 points per game, which ranks 35th nationally.

On offense, they are led by several big-time scorers down low, all of which could give Villanova trouble. Their best player is probably senior Da’Sean Butler, who may be in the running for the Big East Player of the Year. On the season, he is averaging 17 points and six rebounds per game. Kevin Jones is maybe the most versatile player on this team, a 6’9 forward who gets 14 points and seven rebounds per game. And of course Devin Ebanks leads this team in rebounding, grabbing eight boards a night.

So when these two teams square off, who’s got the advantage, Villanova’s offense or West Virginia’s defense? Give just the slightest of edges to Villanova.

There is a reason this team was ranked as high as No. 2 in the country last week, they’re really that good. After struggling on Saturday, it seems like they come into this game with a renewed sense of urgency, after seeing an 11 game win streak snapped.

While I’m not saying that they’ll win straight up, 5 ½ points seems like a lot to be getting for such a high scoring team. Villanova’s talented and experienced, and won’t get run out of the gym Monday night.

Take the Wildcats in the college basketball betting odds.

Aaron’s Pick: Villanova +5.5