DePaul at Villanova Prediction - Basketball Picks 2/8/23

Villanova Wildcats (10-13) vs DePaul Blue Demons (9-15)

Game Info: Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 8:30 pm (Finneran Pavilion)

Betting Odds: Villanova Wildcats -9.5 -- Over/Under: 142 Click Here for the Latest Odds

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The Villanova Wildcats will host the DePaul Blue Demons in Big East play from the DePaul and Villanova have faced off 40 times, with the Wildcats leading the all-time series, 32-8, despite a ten-point loss to Blue Demons in Chicago last month.

DePaul fell to 9-15 after losing to Seton Hall in Newark.  The Blue Demons nearly fought back from a double digit lead, but ended up falling to the Pirates by five points. DePaul is scoring 71.3 points per game, while allowing 75.9 ppg, and shooting 42.3% from the field.

DePaul allowed mental mistakes and foul trouble dictate another outcome for them versus SHU, but they’ll look to complete the rare season series over Nova here. The Blue Demons are 3-10 in Big East, with a 2-8 on the road. Former OU guard Umoka Gibson got DePaul back into the game last Sunday with his fourth game of 21 points or more in his last six games, and he’s now leading the team in scoring (16.1) and assists (4.9). Fellow veteran Javon Johnson will look to respond to a silent outing against the Pirates here, and he’s scoring 14.5 ppg, while grabbing 4.6 rpg this season. Forward Da’Sean Nelson (10.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg).

Villanova dropped to 10-13 after losing to Creighton in Omaha. The Wildcats trailed the Bluejays at the break, and ended up falling by five points after a stalled rally. Villanova is scoring 69.7 points per game, while allowing 67.1 ppg and shooting 43.7% from the field.

Villanova has dropped their last three games, and it’s very likely they miss postseason play for the first time in over a decade. The Wildcats are 4-8 in Big East play, and they’re 6-3 at home. Senior guard Caleb Daniels struggled in first meeting with DePaul, but he leads Nova in scoring (16.0). Junior forward Eric Dixon scored a team-high 20 points last time out at Creighton, and he’s posting an identical 15.8 ppg and a team-lead 6.6 rpg. Veteran guard and three-year starter Justin Moore returned a couple of weeks ago, and this will mark his fourth appearance. 

DePaul is 10-12-2 against the spread this season, with a 10-11 over/under record. Villanova is 8-15 ATS this year, with a 8-13 o/u record.

Nothing comes easy in the Big East, and these two schools have felt that first hand this year. DePaul has naturally found themselves playing from behind this season, and that’s quietly when they’ve been at their best. The Blue Demons should find themselves trailing the Wildcats in this one, and there’s a chance that Chicago grit comes through as it did on Sunday with Seton Hall. Villanova is far from trustworthy at the moment, so while they may snap their three-game skid here, the Blue Demons will make them work for it. Take DePaul’s spread for this Big East contest.

Corey’s Pick DePaul +9.5

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The pick in this article is the opinion of the writer, not a PickDawgz site consensus.

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