Marquette vs. Villanova Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

• February 10, 2021
• By Joe Williams
• VegasInsider.com

The Marquette Golden Eagles (9-10) hit the road for Philadelphia, battling the No. 4 Villanova Wildcats (12-2). The Wildcats are double-digit favorites in this Big East battle which will be televised on FOX Sports 1 (FS1).

BETTING RESOURCES

• Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
• Conference: Big East
• Venue: Finneran Pavilion
• Location: Villanova, Pennsylvania
• Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2021
• Time: 9:00 p.m.
• TV: FS1
• Bet: BetMGM | FanDuel | FOXBet |DraftKings | Best Sportsbooks

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Marquette-Villanova Betting Odds

• Spread: Villanova -11.5
• Money-Line: Villanova -700, Marquette +500
• Total: 139.5

Odds Subject to Change

The Golden Eagles of Marquette have had a series of near-misses lately, or their record could look a lot more attractive. They fell 71-68 last time out against Creighton, although they were able to cover the five-point number. That cover slapped the brakes on an 0-5 ATS skid.

Marquette also fell 75-73 at home to St. John's on Jan. 31, coming on the heels of a gut-wrenching overtime loss Jan. 27 in Providence.

The Golden Eagles are hoping for a much better showing than they had in Milwaukee in the first meeting with the Wildcats. Villanova dusted Marquette by an 85-68 count on Dec. 23 as 5.5-point favorites as the 'over' (140.5) connected.

Villanova posted an 84-74 win over Georgetown last time out, rebounding from a disappointing and shocking 70-59 loss at St. John's as nine-point favorites. 'Nova is just 1-4 ATS in the past five as favorites of eight or more points.

Betting Analysis – Marquette Golden Eagles

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 9-10
• ATS: 6-13
• SU - Home: 6-7
• SU - Away: 3-3
• O/U: 7-11-1

The Golden Eagles are just 1-4 SU/ATS across the past five outings, but all of the setbacks have been by single digits. One thing that has been consistent about Marquette lately is the 'under', going 4-1-1 across the past six outings.

Marquette has struggled to score the basketball this season, registering 71.5 PPG to rank 181st in the country. They're slightly better in field-goal percentage at 45.2, ranking 120th, and they're 130th in the nation at the free-throw line at 71.9 percent. They have also hit 3-pointers at a 34.5 percent clip, ranking 133rd.

On the defensive end of the floor they are also so-so, ranking 171st with 69.8 PPG allowed. They have held opponents to a 40.5 field-goal percentage, ranking 54th in the nation, although they're just 269th against the three with opponents hitting at a 35.6 percent clip.

The player to watch is D.J. Carton, who leads the team with 12.7 points, 3.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Theo John is a force in the middle, swatting 1.8 shots per game.

Betting Analysis – Villanova Wildcats

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 12-2
• ATS: 8-6
• SU - Home: 5-1
• SU - Away: 7-1
• O/U: 8-6

The Wildcats enter on an 0-2 ATS skid, failing to cover in back-to-back games for the first time this season. Overall they're still a solid 8-6 ATS, including a cover against the Golden Eagles on Dec. 23 in Milwaukee as 5.5-point favorites, winning 85-68.

Villanova ranks in the Top 50 with 77.9 PPG, and they're 44th in the nation raining 3-pointers in at a 37.5-point clip. The Wildcats are also a very good free-throw shooting team, hitting at a 77.8-point mark from the charity stripe.

On the defensive side of the ball, 'Nova ranks 117th in defensive scoring average at 67.9 PPG, while allowing the opponents to hit 45.5 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from behind the arc. The latter ranks just 307th in the nation.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is the next big star for the Wildcats, leading the team with 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 0.6 blocked shots per game. His partner in crime is Collin Gillespie, who leads the team with 4.8 assists and 1.0 steals per outing.

Inside the Stats – Marquette Golden Eagles

• PS/G: 71.5 (183rd)
• PA/G: 69.8 (171sst)
• Off Rtg: 104.2 (135th)
• Def Rtg: 101.8 (234th)

Inside the Stats – Villanova Wildcats

• PS/G: 77.9 (50th)
• PA/G: 67.9 (118th)
• Off Rtg: 116.1 (6th)
• Def Rtg: 101.1 (219th)

Key Players to Watch

• MARQ - D.J. Carton (12.7 PPG)
• MARQ - Dawson Garcia (12.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG)
• NOVA - Collin Gillespie (14.4 PPG, 4.8 APG)
• NOVA - Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (15.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG)

Marquette-Villanova Predictions

The Golden Eagles stumble in on a 2-10 ATS skid, while going 0-4 ATS in their past four outings on the road. They're also just 1-7 ATS in the previous eight on the road against teams with a winning overall home mark. And, as mentioned above, Marquette was roughed up by Villanova in the first meeting by 17.

Villanova hasn't exactly been lighting the world afire, either, going 2-9 ATS in their past 11 games at home. However, the favorite is 13-6 ATS in the past 19 in this series, including the earlier meeting this season. And 'Nova hasn't posted three straight ATS losses since an 0-5 non-cover skid from Nov. 24-Dec. 14, 2019.

• Score Prediction: Villanova 83 Marquette 64
• Best Bets: Villanova -11.5
• Best Bets: Over 139.5

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