Butler (7-6) vs Villanova (8-5)
Game Info: Wednesday, January 1, 2025 at 6:30 pm (Hinkle Fieldhouse)
The Line: Betting Odds: Butler +2 / Villanova -2 — Over/Under: 148
The Villanova Wildcats are visiting the Butler Bulldogs on Wednesday, January 1st at the Hinkle Fieldhouse. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Villanova Wildcats vs Butler Bulldogs Prediction.
Butler Bulldogs Preview
The Butler Bulldogs have a 7-6 record this season and are sitting in second to last place in the Big East. The Bulldogs are 7-6 against the spread, and 6-7 in over/under, while having a 5-3 home record. Butler is coming off five consecutive losses, and are 2-4 against the spread in their last 6 games. Over is 3-0 in their last 3 games.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 74-78 loss by UConn, as they shot with just 43% from the field and 33% from beyond the arc. Patrick McCaffery and Andre Screen led Butler’s offense with 17 points apiece.
Offensively, Butler is averaging 73.1 points per game, which ranks 245th nationally. Defensively, they allow 69.4 points per game, which is 135th in the nation. The Bulldogs shoot 44.9% from the field (200th) and 39.1% from beyond the arc (20th). The Bulldogs shoot 76.7% from the free-throw line (43rd) and are grabbing 35.8 rebounds per game (214th).
Jahmyl Telfort leads Butler in scoring this season, with an average of 15.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, while Pierre Brooks adds 15 points and 4.6 rebounds.
Villanova Wildcats Preview
The Villanova Wildcats have an 8-5 record this season and are sitting on the 6th place in the Big East. The Wildcats are 7-6 against the spread, and 10-3 in over/under while having a 0-2 road record. Villanova is 6-1 in their last 7 games, and are 6-2 against the spread in their last 8. Over is 4-0 in their last 4 games.
The Wildcats are coming off a 79-86 loss in Creighton, even though they shot with 50% from the field, as they allowed the Bluejays to shoot with 55% from the field and 56% from downtown. Eric Dixon led Villanova’s offense with 27 points.
Offensively, Villanova is averaging 79.1 points per game, which ranks 99th in the nation. Defensively, they allow 67.9 points per game (104th). The Wildcats shoot 49% from the field (39th) and 40.6% from beyond the arc, which is the 8th-best in the nation. The Wildcats shoot 80% from the free-throw line, which is the 12th-best in the nation, and are grabbing 35 rebounds per game (245th).
Eric Dixon leads Villanova in scoring with an average of 25.8 points and 5.6 rebounds, while Wooga Poplar adds 13.2 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds.
Why the Butler Bulldogs will win
- The home team has won 10 of the last 11 games between Villanova and Butler.
- Villanova has lost five of its last six games at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
- Butler has won the first half in six of its last seven night games.
Why the Villanova Wildcats will win
- Villanova has won each of its last six night games.
- Butler has lost each of its last five games.
- Villanova has won the first half in each of its last six night games.
Villanova Wildcats vs Butler Bulldogs Prediction
Villanova is 4-2 in their last 6 meetings against Butler, and are 4-2 against the spread. Over is 8-2 in their last 10 meetings, and in their most recent meeting last season, Villanova won 72-62 at home. In this Villanova Wildcats vs Butler Bulldogs Prediction, Villanova is coming as -2 road favorites. Villanova is better both offensively, scoring 6 points more than Butler, and defensively, allowing 1.5 points less. The Wildcats are winning by an average of 11.2 points this season, while the Bulldogs are winning by 2.7 points. Villanova has elite shooting percentages this season, as they rank in the top 40 in field goal percentage while boasting the 8th-best 3-point percentage nationally. Butler is also elite from beyond the arc, ranking in the top 20 of the nation, and both teams have been involved in high-scoring games lately, going for 7-0 to the over in their last 7 games combined. I expect this trend to continue, so take over the total in this one.