The Kalshi promo code (ACTION55) is perfect for the first college basketball game of the season in Rome. This Notre Dame vs. Villanova prediction rounds up our college basketball prop bets today.
- Villanova comes in after going 2-1 in exhibitions, led by Devin Royal at 22 points per game, though Kwame Evans Jr. carries a day-to-day tag with a left leg injury.
- Notre Dame comes in after splitting two road exhibitions, and Micah Shrewsberry enters his fourth season with a 41-56 record and a 16th-place ACC projection.
Here are our college basketball picks today from Kalshi, one of the best prediction markets, before we break down every trade and the full board.
| 🏀 CBB Pick | 🏷️ Position | Price | 🤑 Return on $100 | 📈 Trade It |
|---|---|---|---|
| VILL ML | Yes | 76¢ | $131.04 | Trade it on Kalshi! |
| ND +7.5 (VILL -7.5 NO) | No | 53¢ | $189.56 | Trade it on Kalshi! |
| Under 144.5 (Over NO) | No | 50¢ | $201.00 | Trade it on Kalshi! |
Read our dedicated Kalshi review to learn more, or check out more prediction market promo codes for other platforms.
Best College Basketball Prop Bets Today: Notre Dame vs Villanova Picks
Every pick below is a real trade we would make on Kalshi, one of the best prediction market apps, ranked from the safest price down to the longest number on the board.
The Wildcats and Fighting Irish tip off the college basketball season at the Palazzo dello Sport in Rome, with FOX carrying the Sunday game. Our NCAAB best bets today open the season, and these college basketball prop bets today come straight from Kalshi's live board.
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Best Moneyline Pick Today – Villanova
| 🏀 CBB Pick | 🏷️ Position | Price | 🤑 Return on $100 | 📈 Trade It Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| VILL ML | Yes | 76¢ | $131.04 | Trade it now on Kalshi! |
Villanova carries the clearest talent edge on the floor. KenPom rates the Wildcats 32nd and Notre Dame 83rd, and Torvik (30th and 81st) and Evan Miya (30th and 83rd) show the same gap.
Devin Royal averaged 22 points across three exhibitions, and Tyler Perkins added 19.3. Notre Dame counters with Penn transfer Ethan Roberts and senior guard Braeden Shrewsberry, but the Fighting Irish enter Micah Shrewsberry's fourth season after a combined 41-56 record over his first three.
The main risk is depth. Kwame Evans Jr. carries a day-to-day tag, Nico Onyekwere missed the trip over visa issues, and Matt Hodge continues to recover from ACL surgery.
Kalshi's board shows Villanova at 75¢, but a $100 buy fills near 76¢ on average, so we use that number in the table. At that price, $100 buys roughly 131 contracts, and each pays $1 if Villanova wins.
- If Villanova wins: the ticket returns $131.04.
- If Notre Dame wins: the $100 stake is a total loss.
The 1.31x return makes this the safest trade on the board, and Kalshi's 76% matches sportsbook pricing.
Best Spread Pick Today – Notre Dame +7.5
| 🏀 CBB Pick | 🏷️ Position | Price | 🤑 Return on $100 | 📈 Trade It Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| ND +7.5 (VILL -7.5 NO) | No | 53¢ | $189.56 | Trade it now on Kalshi! |
Villanova has sat at -7.5 since the number first posted, and the price has moved only slightly on Action Network's line tracker. The market sees no reason to push the number in either direction.
Action Network's public betting percentages show 88% of bets on Villanova, which makes Notre Dame the contrarian side, and two Action Network contributors also took the Fighting Irish at +7.5.
Notre Dame went 1-1 in its two road exhibitions, falling 75-65 at Dayton before beating DePaul 71-63. Logan Duncomb, the Winthrop transfer who averaged 18.3 points and 8.9 rebounds, carries a day-to-day tag, and VU Hoops expects him to play.
This is one Kalshi contract, "Villanova wins by over 7.5 points," and we take the No side. The board shows No at 51¢, but a $100 buy fills near 53¢ on average, so the table uses the ticket price. That buys roughly 190 contracts, each paying $1 if Villanova fails to win by 8 or more.
- If Notre Dame wins or loses by 7 or fewer: the ticket returns $189.56.
- If Villanova wins by 8 or more: the $100 stake is a total loss.
That is a 1.9x return on a number that sits close to a coin flip.
Best Total Pick Today – Under 144.5 Points
| 🏀 CBB Pick | 🏷️ Position | Price | 🤑 Return on $100 | 📈 Trade It Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 144.5 (Over NO) | No | 50¢ | $201.00 | Trade it now on Kalshi! |
Both teams open cold. Neither has played a regular-season game, and the Rome tip-off adds travel, a neutral floor, and a Sunday morning start.
Notre Dame's two exhibitions finished with 140 and 134 total points, both under this number. Villanova also changed its starting lineup in all three exhibitions, and unsettled rotations tend to produce choppy opening games.
Kalshi's total sits four points below the sportsbook total of 148.5, so this Under needs a slower game than it does at books. Two Action Network contributors took the Under at 148.5 and 149.5, and we still like the number for a slow opener.
The Under is the No side of the "Over 144.5 points" contract. The board shows No at 48¢, but a $100 buy fills near 50¢ on average, so we use the ticket price. That buys about 201 contracts, each paying $1 if the game finishes with 144 total points or fewer.
- If the game finishes with 144 or fewer total points: the ticket returns $201.00.
- If it reaches 145 or more: the $100 stake is a total loss.
A 2x return on a coin-flip price gives this the biggest payout among our three picks.
NCAAB Predictions: Notre Dame vs Villanova Moneyline, Spread and Total
Before we get into the game lines, here is every side of the Kalshi board for this Notre Dame vs Villanova prediction.
| 🏀 CBB Pick | 🏷️ Position | Price | 🤑 Return on $100 | 📈 Trade It |
|---|---|---|---|
| VILL ML | Yes | 76¢ | $131.04 | Trade it on Kalshi! |
| ND ML | Yes | 27¢ | $365.65 | Trade it on Kalshi! |
| VILL -7.5 | Yes | 54¢ | $186.03 | Trade it on Kalshi! |
| ND +7.5 (VILL -7.5 NO) | No | 53¢ | $189.56 | Trade it on Kalshi! |
| Over 144.5 | Yes | 66¢ | $151.62 | Trade it on Kalshi! |
| Under 144.5 (Over NO) | No | 50¢ | $201.00 | Trade it on Kalshi! |
Villanova Moneyline
Kalshi prices Villanova as the clear favorite at 76% to win outright, which lines up with the sportsbooks.
Notre Dame Moneyline
Notre Dame takes the underdog role at 27% to win outright, a fair price for a team that opens as a 7.5-point underdog.
Notre Dame vs Villanova Spread
Villanova to win by more than 7.5 points trades at 54% Yes against 53% No on our $100 tickets, essentially a pick'em on the margin.
Notre Dame vs Villanova Total
The total sits at 144.5 points. The Under trades at 50% No to 66% Yes on the Over on our $100 tickets, while the board lists 48¢ and 64¢.
What's Moving the Market
Prediction markets and prices can move for several reasons. Villanova has held at -7.5 at sportsbooks all week, and Kalshi's 76% moneyline on the Wildcats matches the sportsbook price. That agreement keeps our college basketball picks today anchored to the sportsbook market.
The biggest gap sits on the total, where Kalshi lists 144.5 against 148.5 at sportsbooks. Villanova draws 88% of the bets, per Action Network's public betting percentages, so late money on Notre Dame is the move to watch in our NCAAB predictions.
Injury news carries the most weight for NCAAB best bets today, and updates on Kwame Evans Jr. and Logan Duncomb, both day-to-day, can shift every price on this board.
For the full sportsbook odds, line movement, and expert picks, check Action Network's Villanova vs Notre Dame odds page.
How to Trade These College Basketball Picks Today on Kalshi
Ready to get in on this board? Here's exactly how to claim the bonus and start trading:
- Read a comprehensive Kalshi review to understand how this exchange operates.
- Follow this guide to trading on Kalshi to learn how to buy your first "Yes" or "No" contract.
- Monitor the relevant tab on Kalshi to stay ahead of the live order book movements.
- When you're ready, sign up with Kalshi promo code ACTION55 to get started!
📝 KALSHI TERMS & CONDITIONS
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Final Thoughts: NCAAB Best Bets Today
Villanova holds a clear ratings edge in the first college basketball game of the season, and Kalshi prices that edge at 76% on the moneyline. Our Notre Dame vs Villanova prediction builds on that edge, and our college basketball prop bets today keep the price near even on two of three trades.
Our NCAAB best bets today describe one script: Villanova wins a slow, close opener by seven points or fewer. The Villanova moneyline, Notre Dame +7.5 and the Under 144.5 all fit that game.
Check lineup news before tip, then use these college basketball picks today and NCAAB predictions on Kalshi. For more on how these markets work, the prediction markets hub covers every sport in season.
Notre Dame vs Villanova Prediction FAQs
Who wins the Notre Dame vs Villanova prediction?
Kalshi prices Villanova at 76% to win outright, with Notre Dame at 27%. We back Villanova on the moneyline and take Notre Dame +7.5 on the spread, which describes a close Villanova win.
What are the best college basketball prop bets today for Notre Dame vs Villanova?
Kalshi lists moneyline, spread, and total contracts for this game. Our three trades are Villanova on the moneyline, Notre Dame +7.5 on the spread, and the Under 144.5 on the total.
What are the NCAAB best bets today for the Rome opener?
Villanova on the moneyline carries the safest price, Notre Dame +7.5 sits near a coin flip, and the Under 144.5 pays the biggest return of our three picks.
What are the best NCAAB predictions for Notre Dame vs Villanova?
Our NCAAB predictions call for Villanova to win a slow, close season opener by seven points or fewer, with the game finishing at 144 total points or fewer.
What are the best college basketball picks today for the spread and total?
Notre Dame +7.5 is the spread pick, and the Under 144.5 is the total pick. Kalshi sets the spread at Villanova -7.5, matching the sportsbook consensus, and the total at 144.5, compared with 148.5 at sportsbooks.
How do I use the Kalshi promo code for these picks?
Create a Kalshi account, make a qualifying deposit, and enter the promo code during signup to unlock the trading bonus, then place your trades on the Notre Dame vs Villanova board.
Where is Notre Dame vs Villanova played?
The game tips off Sunday on FOX at the Palazzo dello Sport in Rome, Italy, and it opens the college basketball season for both teams.
Are Kwame Evans Jr. and Logan Duncomb playing?
Both carry day-to-day tags with leg injuries. VU Hoops expects Duncomb to suit up for Notre Dame, and Kevin Willard hasn't signaled that Evans Jr. is missing the opener for Villanova, so check lineup news before tip.
