Villanova vs. DePaul Betting Odds, Pick (Feb. 19): Sharp Action, Pro System Aligned on Spread

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Mitchell Leff/Getty Images. Pictured: Collin Gillespie and Romeo Weems

Feb 20, 2020, 07:15 PM EST

Updated odds for tonight's Villanova vs. DePaul matchup have the Wildcats favored by 4.5 points.
Villanova's superior record and ranking has most bettors laying the points with the favorites.
Sharp bettors and a PRO System, however, are suggesting that the betting value may lie with DePaul.

If you’re the wait-until-football-season-ends type of college hoops fan, you’re probably not surprised about DePaul’s 1-11, last-place Big East record and 13-12 mark overall. What you might find surprising, though, is that the Demons started the year off with nine straight wins. They were 12-1 entering conference play.

Things have obviously taken quite a turn for DePaul, and as such, most bettors have steered clear of their once money-making friends for the past couple months.

That’s the case again tonight, as DePaul hosts third-place and 12th-ranked Villanova (9 p.m. ET, CBSSN) as a relatively small favorite.

Odds as of Wednesday at 12 p.m. ET. In Pennsylvania? Check out FanDuel. Get up to a $500 risk-free bet at FanDuel today or see more offers and reviews for the best online sportsbooks.

Villanova vs. DePaul Sharp Betting, System Pick

Villanova opened as just 5-point favorite at most books, and has attracted a potential slate-high 85% of tickets — only Auburn (87%) has a higher mark as of 12 p.m. ET.

Lopsided as the tickets may be, however, the actual money has been less so. That 85% backing has made up for just 66% of dollars hitting the spread, meaning bigger bettors — the ones more likely to be sharps — are taking the points rather than laying them.

Sure enough, a pair of Sports Insights Bet Signals — indicators of market activity caused by sharp action — have triggered two moves coming as a result of smart money on DePaul (both at +5). As a result, the spread has moved away from the heavily popular side, shrinking to +4.5.

Sharp angle: DePaul (moved from +5 to +4.5) [In PA? Bet now at FanDuel.]

That heavily popularity of Villanova has also put DePaul in what’s historically been a profitable position.

In power-conference matchups since 2005, a team seeing less than 25% of spread bets has covered 55% of the time (710-589-31) at the closing number.

Our PRO System, which takes into account non-extreme totals, bumps that win rate up to 57%.

PRO System pick: DePaul (assuming a less than 25% backing) [In PA? Bet now at FanDuel.]

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