Notre Dame vs Villanova Prediction 11/1/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Villanova Wildcats will meet on Sunday morning in a season-opening college basketball matchup in Rome, Italy. Let’s take a look at this game from a betting perspective.

Notre Dame Fighting irish Preview

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish enter Sunday’s season opener looking to improve upon last season’s 13-18 overall record, including an abysmal 4-14 mark in ACC conference play. The Fighting Irish compiled victories over Missouri, Rutgers, TCU and NC State, while suffering losses to Houston, North Carolina and Duke. Despite the disappointing finish, Notre Dame showed flashes of offensive potential against several quality opponents throughout the 2025 season.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish averaged 74.5 points per game on 45.5 percent shooting from the field last season. Defensively, the Fighting Irish allowed 75.3 points per contest and struggled to consistently slow down opposing offenses.  

Senior guard Braeden Shrewsberry was a key contributor for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish last season, averaging 11.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 40.2 percent from three-point range. Shrewsberry started 31 games for the Fighting Irish and ranked among the ACC’s better perimeter shooters, connecting on 84 three pointers during the season. His experience, leadership and outside shooting will be critical as Notre Dame opens the season overseas against a formidable Villanova squad. Notre Dame will rely heavily on several returning contributors and transfer additions as the Fighting Irish attempt to take a significant step forward during the 2026-27 season.

Villanova Wildcats Betting Preview

The Villanova Wildcats enter Sunday’s matchup coming off a successful 24-9 season that included a 15-5 Big East conference record. The Wildcats recorded victories over Georgetown, Seton Hall, Pittsburgh and the Wisconsin Badgers. Villanova finished the year among the better teams in its conference and carried strong momentum into the offseason.

The Villanova Wildcats averaged 77.1 points per game on 45.6 percent shooting from the field and 35.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc last season. Defensively, the Wildcats surrendered just 71.2 points per contest while forcing 12.5 turnovers per game.  

Guard Tyler Perkins was a standout performer for the Wildcats last season averaging 13.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in 2025. Sophomore forward Matt Hodge was also a key contributor for the Wildcats last season, averaging 9.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per contest.

Why the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Will Win

• Offensive potential. Senior guard Braeden Shrewsberry was a key contributor for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish last season, averaging 11.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 40.2 percent from three-point range.

• Offensive upside. The Fighting Irish have enough perimeter talent to challenge Villanova if they can dictate tempo and generate quality looks from beyond the arc.

Why the Villanova Wildcats Will Win

• Proven success. Villanova is coming off a 24-9 season and demonstrated a far greater level of consistency than Notre Dame throughout last year.

• Balanced scoring. Tyler Perkins and Matt Hodge return to lead the Villanova Wildcats in 2026.  

• Defensive advantage. The Wildcats allowed just 71.2 points per game in 2025 compared to the 75.3 points allowed by Notre Dame.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Villanova Wildcats Prediction

In my view, the way to go in this matchup is the total rather than a side. Why? This game will be played in neutral site environment (Rome, Italy). With that said, opening the season in Rome removes any home court advantage and creates an unfamiliar setting for both teams. I envision a contest where both teams struggle to find offensive rhythm throughout this game. For the reasons just noted, I am backing under 149.5 points in this game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Under 149.5