USA TODAY Sports. Pictured: Markus Howard and Collin Gilespie
Villanova-Marquette Betting Odds, Pick
- Odds: Marquette -1.5
- Total: 144
- Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
- TV: FOX
>> All odds as of 7 a.m. ET. Download The Action Network App to get real-time odds and win probabilities on your bets.
On National Marquette Day — the school’s version of homecoming — the Golden Eagles will play arguably their biggest game of the season in front of a raucous home crowd.
Marquette hosts Villanova, which is a perfect 10-0 in Big East play. The second-place Eagles are 8-2, so a win here would get them back in the conference title race; a loss would give the Wildcats a huge lead.
So who has the edge Saturday? Let’s break it all down.
Odds Moves for Villanova-Marquette
Marquette opened -1 at some offshore books, and was bet up to -1.5 and -2. Westgate sits at -1.5 as of 7 a.m. ET on Saturday.
The total has also risen half a point, from 143.5 to 144. — Steve Petrella
Trends to Know
If Villanova closes as an underdog against Marquette, it will be the first time in 14 games in the series that Nova is a dog. Nova hasn’t been a dog in conference play in February or later since 2014.
In Villanova’s last 16 games as a dog against a conference opponent in February or later dating back to 2010, Jay Wright’s crew is just 3-12-1 (20%) against the spread, failing to cover by 4.8 points per game. — Evan Abrams
In Villanova’s last game against Creighton, it shot 37.5% from the field, its worst shooting performance since December this season and fourth-worst overall.
Since the beginning of the 2013-14 season, Wright has led Villanova to a 17-4 (81%) against the spread record the game after shooting below 40% from the field, covering the spread by 5.3 points per game. In that span, Wright is the second-most profitable coach in this spot behind just Andy Kennedy. — Evan Abrams