Villanova (17-4) at Butler (17-5)
When: Wednesday, February 5th, 2020
Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse,
Indianapolis, IN
Time: 6:30 ET | TV: FS1
Opening Odds: Butler -2/130
Open an Account at Bovada Sportsbook to get up to a $250 Deposit Bonus!
The Villanova Wildcats have dominated the Butler Bulldogs for the last couple of seasons and will go for the season sweep on Wednesday night when the teams battle at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse. Both teams are firmly in the NCAA Tournament as of now according to ESPN’s Bracketology, with the Wildcats on the No. 4 seed and the Bulldogs on the No. 5 line. Villanova saw their seven game winning streak come to a screeching halt on Saturday with a 76-61 home loss to Creighton. The Wildcats sit one game behind first place Seton Hall in the Big East Conference, while the Bulldogs have fallen to fifth. Butler has struggled of late, losing four of their last six after a 65-61 setback at home to Providence. The Bulldogs are just 1-5 ATS in their last six games and have failed to cover the spread in their last five meetings with Villanova. The Wildcats earned a 76-61 win over Butler on Jan. 21 despite shooting just 37.7 percent from the field.
Butler owns the eighth-best scoring defense in the country (59.9), but have surrendered 64 points or more in each of their last six games and 76 or more in four of those contests. All five starters scored in double-figures in the loss to Providence on Saturday, but shot just 1-of-14 from beyond the arc and 40% from the floor. Kamar Baldwin led the way with 14 points but was just 4-of-15 from the field and missed all five of his 3-point attempts. Bryce Nze had the most productive game with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Butler will be at Marquette on Sunday.
Villanova had only two players score in double-figures Saturday in the loss to Creighton led by Justin Moore’s 18 points off the bench. Moore has now scored in double-figures in four straight games after failing to do so in his previous four contests. Leading scorer Collin Gillespie (15.3) also had 18 points in the loss but was just 2-of-8 from beyond the arc, while Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (11.0 points) was a dismal 0-for-7 from the field. Villanova will host Seton Hall on Saturday.
Both teams are coming off losses and should be ready to bounce back in Wednesday night’s key matchup. Butler’s defense has not been very good lately, but the last two games showed some improvement. They have one of the best homecourt advantages in the country and I don’t see them losing back-to-back at Hinkle.
Pick: Butler -2.5
Wildcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Wildcats are 28-12 ATS in their last 40 games following a ATS loss.
Wildcats are 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 road games.
Wildcats are 5-13-1 ATS in their last 19 games following a double-digit loss at home.
Bulldogs are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog.
Bulldogs are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games as a home underdog.
Bulldogs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Bulldogs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Bulldogs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss.
Bulldogs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 4-0 in Wildcats last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 4-0 in Wildcats last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 5-0 in Wildcats last 5 road games.
Over is 6-1 in Wildcats last 7 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 9-2 in Wildcats last 11 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 games as a favorite.
Under is 8-2 in Wildcats last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-2 in Wildcats last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 7-3-1 in Wildcats last 11 Wednesday games.
Over is 5-0 in Bulldogs last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 5-0 in Bulldogs last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 5-0 in Bulldogs last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 6-1 in Bulldogs last 7 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-1-1 in Bulldogs last 7 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 4-1 in Bulldogs last 5 games as an underdog.
Over is 4-1 in Bulldogs last 5 Wednesday games.
Under is 3-1-1 in Bulldogs last 5 games as a home underdog.
Over is 5-2 in Bulldogs last 7 overall.
Favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
