Temple vs Villanova Prediction College Basketball Picks 12/7/24

The Temple Owls are visiting the Villanova Wildcats on Saturday, December 7th at the Wells Fargo Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Temple Owls vs Villanova Wildcats Prediction.

Villanova Wildcats Preview

The Villanova Wildcats have a 5-4 record this season and are coming off a 68-60 win over Cincinnati. The Wildcats are 5-4 against the spread, and 6-3 in over/under, while having a 5-1 home record. 

Offensively, Villanova is averaging 76.7 points per game, which ranks 174th in the nation. Defensively, they allow 65.9 points per game (69th). The Wildcats shoot 46.7% from the field (114th) and 38.8% from beyond the arc (32nd). The Wildcats shoot 81.1% from the free-throw line, which is the 8th-best in the nation, and are grabbing 35.7 rebounds per game (233rd).

Eric Dixon leads Villanova in scoring with an average of 25.9 points and 6.6 rebounds, while Wooga Poplar adds 12.4 points and a team-high 6.7 rebounds. Villanova will meet FDU, Seton Hall, and Creighton after this game.

Temple Owls Preview

The Temple Owls have a 4-3 record this season and are coming off a 75-83 loss in La Salle. The Owls are 2-5 against the spread, and 4-3 in over/under, while having a 0-2 road record this season.

Offensively, Temple is averaging 79 points per game, which ranks 121st in the nation. Defensively, they allow 74 points per game (251st). The Owls shoot 45.4% from the field (166th) and 32.8% from beyond the arc (219th). The Owls shoot 70% from the free-throw line (217th) and are grabbing 38.4 rebounds per game (111th).

Jamal Mashburn leads Temple in scoring this season, with an average of 22.1 points, while Steve Settle adds 13.1 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds.

Why the Temple Owls will win

• Villanova has lost four of its last five games played at neutral venues.
• Temple has won seven of its last nine games played at neutral venues.
• Temple has won the first half in three of its last four games against non-conference opponents at neutral venues.

Why the Villanova Wildcats will win

• Villanova has won 12 of its last 13 games against the American Athletic Conference.
• Temple has lost five of its last six games against the Big East Conference.
• Villanova has won the first half in each of its last four games against non-conference opponents.

Temple Owls vs Villanova Wildcats Prediction

Villanova is 7-1 in their last 8 meetings against Temple, and are 7-1 against the spread. In this Temple Owls vs Villanova Wildcats Prediction, Villanova is coming as a -11.5 home favorites. Temple is better offensively, scoring 2.3 points more than Villanova, while Villanova is better defensively, allowing 8.1 points less. The Wildcats have better percentages both in field goals and in 3-pointers, where they almost crack the top 30 of the nation. Villanova also is the 8th-best team nationally in free throw percentage and has been almost perfect at home, while Temple is still winless on the road. Only one way to go here, and that is to take the Villanova Wildcats and lay the points at home.

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Villanova Wildcats -11.5