Marquette (23-4) at Villanova (20-8)
When: Wednesday, February 27th, 2019
Where: Finneran Pavilion,
Villanova, Pennsylvania
Time: 9:00 ET | TV: Fox Sports 1
Opening Odds: Villanova -5/143.5
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The Villanova Wildcats have one more chance to stay in the Big East Conference race and get back on track before March when they host the first-place Marquette Golden Eagles on Wednesday night at Finneran Pavilion. The Wildcats dropped a 66-65 decision at Marquette on February 9th and have gone 1-3 since, dropping 1.5 games behind the Golden Eagles with just three games left on the conference schedule. Villanova has played much better at home, however, losing on two games on the season and both of those came back in the middle of November. Marquette rode star guard Markus Howard’s 38 points in the win over Villanova earlier this month that started their current four-game winning streak. The Golden Eagles are 6-2 in true road games this season including a 76-58 win at Providence in their most recent contest.
Sam Hauser and Sacar Anim each scored 18 points apiece in Saturday’s win at Providence to record their third-straight double-digit win and ATS cover. Howard (25.3 points) was limited to 14 points on 2-of-12 shooting while playing with a groin strain. Marquette showed why they are a very solid overall team even with Howard limited, as Hauser really stepped up his game against the Friars with 13 rebounds to go along with his 18 points. Marquette can clinch the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Big East Tournament with a win Wednesday.
Villanova guard Collin Gillespie was held to just six points in the loss to Xavier and has been struggling this month, going 6-of-31 from 3-point range since the beginning of the Marquette game. In fact, the entire teams seems to be in a shooting funk, contributing to their three-straight defeats. The Wildcats shot 33.9 percent from the field and just 10-of-36 from 3-point range against the Musketeers and managed to get to the foul line just four times. Leading scorer Phil Booth (18.4) also had trouble on Saturday, going 6-of-18 from the field and 2-of-9 from 3-point land.
I have to take the points in this one. Villanova is really struggling shooting the ball and Marquette is very good defensively, ranking 28th in the country in defensive field goal percentage (40.4). The Golden Eagles play well enough on the road and have enough veteran presence that they won’t be intimidated by the atmosphere.
Pick: Marquette +5
Golden Eagles are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Wednesday games.
Golden Eagles are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Golden Eagles are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games.
Golden Eagles are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.
Golden Eagles are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games following a straight up win.
Golden Eagles are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Golden Eagles are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 vs. Big East.
Golden Eagles are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games overall.
Wildcats are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Wildcats are 22-8 ATS in their last 30 home games.
Wildcats are 40-17 ATS in their last 57 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Wildcats are 54-25 ATS in their last 79 games following a ATS loss.
Wildcats are 15-7 ATS in their last 22 games following a straight up loss.
Wildcats are 43-21 ATS in their last 64 games overall.
Under is 5-0-1 in Golden Eagles last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 6-2 in Golden Eagles last 8 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 21-8-1 in Golden Eagles last 30 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 17-7-1 in Golden Eagles last 25 road games.
Under is 7-3-1 in Golden Eagles last 11 overall.
Under is 7-3-1 in Golden Eagles last 11 vs. Big East.
Under is 4-0 in Wildcats last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 6-0 in Wildcats last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 5-0 in Wildcats last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 13-3-1 in Wildcats last 17 home games.
Under is 7-2-1 in Wildcats last 10 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 3-1-1 in Wildcats last 5 Wednesday games.
Under is 5-2-1 in Wildcats last 8 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 5-2 in Wildcats last 7 home games following three or more consecutive road games.
Under is 5-2 in Wildcats last 7 vs. Big East.
Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Villanova.
Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
Golden Eagles are 4-10 ATS in the last 14 meetings.
Golden Eagles are 2-6 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Villanova.
Underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
