Villanova (10-0) at Temple (6-2)
When: Wednesday, December 13th 2017
Where: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA
Time: 7:00 ET | TV: ESPN2
Opening Odds: Villanova -7
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The Villanova Wildcats are the new No. 1 team in the nation and will be looking for the clean-sweep of fellow Big 5 opponents when they visit the Temple Owls Wednesday night in Philadelphia. The Wildcats rolled through Pennsylvania (90-62) and St. Joseph’s (94-53) before playing a non-Big 5 affair in Madison Square Garden against No. 12 Gonzaga, beating them handily 88-72. Villanova returned to Philadelphia and were trailing at halftime to La Salle before rallying for a 77-68 victory. Temple comes in winners of three of their last four including an 81-78 win over St. Joe’s on Saturday. The Owls aren’t very deep as they use only three players off the bench for the most part and have three players averaging double-digits in points. Villanova leads the all-time series 48-43 and have won the last four matchups.
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The Wildcats are solid on both ends for the floor, ranking 28th in scoring (85.6) and 32nd in points allowed per game (63.3) without a low-post threat. Mikal Bridges (18.2 points) and Jalen Brunson (17.2) are the leading scorers – and both shoot over 54% from the field. Brunson has 48 assists and only 13 turnovers and is an all-Big East first-teamer. Phil Booth (12.7 points), who scored 18 in the win over La Salle, is averaging 18.3 points over the last three games and is 9-of-18 from 3-point range over that stretch. Forward Eric Paschall is 0-for-10 from the field over the last two games and is 1-of-19 from 3-point range on the season. The Wildcats will have a full week off before taking on Hofstra in Uniondale, NY.
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The Owls have two scorers averaging 17.3 points a game in Shizz Alston Jr. and Quinton Rose, and Alston is an elite 3-point shooter (53.5 percent), while Rose is shooting 37.5% from beyond the arc. Obi Enechionyia is the only other double-digit scorer at 12.6 points and is 19-of-20 from the foul line this season, while Alston is also a great foul shooter (25-of-26). Alston had made a school-record 52 straight foul shots before missing his first of the year against the Hawks. Temple held onto an 11-point halftime lead in their game against St. Joe’s and will be looking to beat Villanova for the first time since 2012. Temple will host Drexel on Saturday.
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Temple is an improved team, but they’re not deep enough to compete with Villanova. The Wildcats look like a legitimate Final Four contender and will go all-out tonight before their week off.
Pick: Villanova -8
- Wildcats are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Wildcats are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Wildcats are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.
- Wildcats are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
- Wildcats are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Wildcats are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Wildcats are 36-16-1 ATS in their last 53 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Wildcats are 37-17-1 ATS in their last 55 road games.
- Wildcats are 45-21-1 ATS in their last 67 non-conference games.
- Wildcats are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 Wednesday games.
- Owls are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Owls are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Owls are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Owls are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
- Owls are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Owls are 2-5-2 ATS in their last 9 Wednesday games.
- Owls are 4-12-1 ATS in their last 17 games following a straight up win.
- Owls are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games.
- Owls are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Under is 11-3 in Wildcats last 14 road games.
- Under is 11-3 in Wildcats last 14 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 7-2 in Wildcats last 9 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 9-3 in Wildcats last 12 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 5-2 in Wildcats last 7 Wednesday games.
- Over is 6-1 in Owls last 7 Wednesday games.
- Over is 5-1 in Owls last 6 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 5-1-1 in Owls last 7 vs. Big East.
- Over is 6-2 in Owls last 8 home games.
- Over is 9-3 in Owls last 12 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 5-2 in Owls last 7 games following a ATS loss.
- Under is 12-5 in Owls last 17 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 18-8 in Owls last 26 overall.
- Over is 13-6 in Owls last 19 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Wildcats are 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
- Over is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings in Temple.
- Favorite is 6-0 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
- Over is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings.
