Villanova vs Ohio State Game Preview, Odds, Picks & Predictions

Villanova (+2200) is tied for the 10th-best odds to win the national championship. Ohio State checks in at +12500.

Ohio State flexes its defensive muscle in March Madness opener

So much for the prevailing notion that a struggling Ohio State team would be easy pickings for destiny’s darlings from Loyola Chicago, a team used to defying March Madness predictions.

Loyola won over so many fans during its run to the 2018 Final Four. In last year’s tournament, the Ramblers took out Big Ten power Illinois to reach the Sweet 16.

Loyola jumped out on top early before Malaki Branham had 10 points during a 14-3 run to put the Buckeyes in front by nine points late in the first half. The defense took care of the rest.

Loyola missed 11 of its final 13 shots in the first half and had almost as many turnovers as made field goals in the second half as the Ramblers were limited to 41 points on 27% shooting.

It was a reversal of fortune for an Ohio State team that lost four of its last five games heading into the tournament with three of those coming against teams that failed to get a bid into the NCAA tournament.

The Las Vegas odds total has gone over in 11 of the last 15 games when Ohio State is listed as an underdog.

Villanova dials long distance in NCAA opener

It looked for a while like Villanova would deal with similar issues on offense that plagued fellow Big East teams Marquette and UConn in their first-round exits when the Wildcats took on Delaware in their NCAA tournament opener.

Villanova missed its first five 3-point attempts but once the shots started falling, the Wildcats started rolling. Villanova made its last five 3-point shots in the first half and 8 of its first 14 in the second half to turn what was a Delaware lead into an easy win for the Big East Tournament champions.

The backcourt of Collin Gillespie and Justin Moore had been slowed by injury in the second half of the season. It didn’t result in Gillespie and Moore missing games but they were either limited in practices or held out altogether.

Moore had 21 points and Gillespie 14 in the 20-point win. They combined to go 7 of 14 from 3-point range and 10 assists between them as the Wildcats won the opener in the March Madness brackets for the eighth straight tournament.

Wildcats keep on dancing 🕺

(2) Villanova routs (15) Delaware 80-60 to move on to the Round of 32#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/RGQmMjISG2

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 18, 2022

Villanova has won 11 of its last 12 but is just 5-5-2 against the college basketball spreads in those games.

Ohio State vs. Villanova Head-to-Head

Ohio State won the last two matchups with Villanova including a 76-51 victory in 2019 as a one-point favorite. It was the first meeting between the teams since 2003 so there isn’t much in the way of series results to aid those who bet online.

Villanova has split its last two meetings with a No. 7 seed in the NCAA tournament beating Iowa 87-68 in 2016 and losing to UConn 77-65 in 2014. Ohio State is 2-2 when going against No. 2 seed with both the wins coming in 2007. The Buckeyes lost by 15 points to Arizona in 2015 as a 10-point underdog and to Kansas by two points in 2012 as a three-point favorite.

Ohio State vs. Villanova Game Information

• Game: Ohio State (20-11) vs. Villanova (27-7)
• Location: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Day/Time: Sunday, March 20, 2:40 p.m. ET
• Live Stream:TBS.com
• March Madness Bracket

Ohio State vs. Villanova Betting Lines

Ohio State vs. Villanova Prediction

Ohio State is among the select group of teams in the top 40 nationally in field-goal percentage, 3-point percentage and free-throw shooting so Villanova will look to limit the number of possessions.

Villanova has won its last 10 games when the March Madness odds list the Wildcats as a favorite.

The 132-point total does seem a little on the low side.

Pick: Villanova -220

Pick: Ohio State +5 (-110)