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College Basketball

DePaul Blue Demons vs. Villanova Wildcats Predictions, Picks, Odds

Daniel Dobish
Daniel Dobish Sports Betting Expert
6 minute read

The DePaul Blue Demons (10-8, 1-7 Big East) travel to meet the Villanova Wildcats (14-5, 7-2) at Finneran Pavilion in Villanova, Pa. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on FOX Sports 1.

SCORE PREDICTION

Villanova 77, DePaul 63

BEST BETS

DePaul +16.5 (-110) at BetMGM

Over 135.5 (-110) at BetMGM

DEPAUL BLUE DEMONS VS. VILLANOVA WILDCATS PREDICTIONS

The Blue Demons were paddled 60-47 at Creighton last time out on Saturday, and the point total was a season low. DePaul shot just 35% from the floor, going 19-of-54, or 35%, while hitting just 3-of-13, or 23%, from behind the 3-point line. Creighton also had twice as a many trips to the free-throw line (18 to 9), while the Bluejays outrebounded the Blue Demons 39-29 while committing two fewer turnovers. DePaul did a good job with seven blocked shots, holding its own defensively, but they suffered a seventh loss in eight conference games.

The Wildcats bounced back from a loss Wednesday at home against Marquette, rolling up an 85-74 victory at Georgetown while just missing the cover as 13.5-point favorites. The 85-point outburst was actually the highest total since dropping 100 on Howard in a non-conference game at Finneran back on Nov. 16. Villanova has failed to cover the past two games, and they haven't had three straight non-covers at any point this season.

DEPAUL BLUE DEMONS VS. VILLANOVA WILDCATS BETTING ODDS

More Odds | Futures Odds

DEPAUL BLUE DEMONS VS. VILLANOVA WILDCATS BETTING RESOURCES

  • Matchup: Big East
  • Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2022
  • Venue: Finneran Pavilion
  • Location: Villanova, Pennsylvania
  • TV-Time: FS1 - 7:00 p.m. ET

DEPAUL BLUE DEMONS BETTING ANALYSIS

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

  • SU: 10-8
  • ATS: 10-7-1
  • O/U: 11-7

The Blue Demons have dropped seven of the past eight games, all inside the conference, while going 3-6 ATS across the past nine games overall. They are a respectable 5-4-1 ATS this season as an underdog, however. While hitting the road, they're 1-4 ATS across the past five road outings, while going 2-6 ATS across the past eight away games overall.

One huge story to watch is Big East potential First-Team player Javon Freeman-Liberty's health status. He has been dealing with a groin injury, and he hasn't played since suffering the injury Jan. 12 against Seton Hall. With Freeman-Liberty in the lineup, the Blue Demons are a respectable 2-2 ATS with the OVER hitting in the past four outings he has played. Without him, the UNDER is 2-1 in three games with JFL on the shelf.

In this series, DePaul hasn't had a lot of success. In fact, the Blue Demons have dropped 20 straight meetings since its last win in Illinois on Jan. 3, 2008. The Blue Demons are a respectable 6-6 ATS across the past 12 in the series. The OVER is 6-0-1 in the previous seven meetings, 7-2-1 across the past 10 games in this series, and 14-3-1 in the previous 18 meetings.

VILLANOVA WILDCATS BETTING ANALYSIS

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

  • SU: 14-5
  • ATS: 11-8
  • O/U: 9-10

Villanova has failed to cover the past two games, but they haven't had three or more consecutive non-covers since an 0-5 ATS run from Nov. 24-Dec. 14, 2019. In the first meeting with the Blue Demons, a game which Freeman-Liberty played, the Wildcats still steamrolled DePaul 79-64 in Rosemont while covering a 10-point spread as the OVER connected.

The Wildcats have covered six of the past eight games overall, while going 4-1 ATS in the past five games at home. They're also 6-1 ATS in the past seven against teams with a winning overall record. Villanova has a stellar 41-19-2 ATS mark across the past 62 following a non-cover, too.

For totals, the OVER is 9-1-1 in the past 11 games against teams with a winning overall record, although the UNDER is 4-1 in the past five at home.

In this series, the favorite is 5-2 ATS in the past seven meetings, with the road team going 13-3 ATS in the past 16 meetings.


DePaul is just 1-4 ATS in the past five games on the road. (AP)

INSIDE THE STATS - DEPAUL BLUE DEMONS

  • Record: 10-8
  • VI Ranking: 65
  • PS/G: 75.7 (88th)
  • PA/G: 71.3 (246th)
  • ORtg: 105.3 (129th)
  • DRtg: 99.1 (191st)

INSIDE THE STATS - VILLANOVA WILDCATS

  • Record: 14-5
  • VI Ranking: 15
  • PS/G: 72.7 (160th)
  • PA/G: 60.9 (21st)
  • ORtg: 113.6 (20th)
  • DRtg: 95.1 (98th)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • DEP: Javon Freeman-Liberty - G (21.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.6 SPG)
  • DEP: David Jones - F (15.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.9 SPG, 1.1 BPG)
  • NOVA: Collin Gillespie - G (17.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.3 SPG)
  • NOVA: Justin Moore - G (15.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.2 SPG)

DEPAUL BLUE DEMONS VS. VILLANOVA WILDCATS BETTING CONCLUSION

The Blue Demons travel to Finneran Pavilion in Villanova hoping that the 21st time is a charm. Yes, they're 0-20 SU in the past 20 meetings dating back to Jan. 3, 2008, although the Blue Demons are a respectable 9-11 ATS during the span. DePaul is 0-2 ATS in two games as a double-digit underdog this season, including the first meeting with Villanova on Jan. 8. It is also 0-4 ATS in the past four as an underdog of 10 or more points.

Villanova could catch a huge break if DePaul's leading scorer Freeman-Liberty is sidelined for a fourth consecutive game. He has missed the past three due to a groin injury, and if he is unable to go, the Blue Demons do not have a chance in h-e double hockey sticks, especially on the road. Still, 16.5 points is an awful big number in a conference game, and 'Nova is 0-2 ATS in the past two as 13.5-point favorites. As a favorite of 11.5 or more points, the Wildcats are just 3-4 ATS across the past seven. Villanova is going to win, likely by double digits, but DePaul should hang on for the cover.

DEPAUL BLUE DEMONS VS. VILLANOVA WILDCATS BETTING TRENDS

  • DePaul is 1-4 ATS in the past five road games.
  • Villanova is 6-2 ATS in the past eight games overall.
  • Villanova is 4-1 ATS in the past five home games.
  • Villanova is 6-1 ATS in the past seven vs. winning teams.
  • The UNDER is 10-4 in the past 14 road games for DePaul.
  • The OVER is 16-5-1 in the past 22 vs. winning teams for DePaul.
  • The UNDER is 4-1-1 in the past five home games for Villanova.
  • The OVER is 9-1-1 in the past 11 vs. winning teams for Villanova.
  • The UNDER is 7-3 in the past 10 after a SU win for Villanova.
  • The favorite is 5-2 ATS in the past seven meetings.
  • The road team is 13-3 ATS in the past 16 meetings.

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Daniel Dobish

Daniel Dobish

Dan is a handicapper and sports betting expert for VegasInsider with years of experience writing for a number of top publications in the industry. More from Daniel Dobish
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