Miami Hurricanes vs. Villanova Wildcats Betting Odds - Point Spread Pick

Miami Hurricanes vs. Villanova Wildcats Betting Odds - Point Spread Pick

David Schwab
Date: March 24, 7:10 pm
Location: KFC Yum! Center
TV: CBS

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Villanova -4.5
Total: 141.5

<p>Miami has taken care of business in its first two tournament tests with a 79-72 victory against Buffalo followed by Saturday's 65-57 win over Wichita State. While the Hurricanes did fail to cover against the spread as heavy 14-point favorites in Thursday's opener, they turned back the Shockers as two-point underdogs. The total stayed UNDER the closing 129-point line after going OVER in their previous three games.
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<p>The backcourt combination of seniors' Angel Rodriguez and Sheldon McClellan once again led the way against Wichita State with a combine 46 points. The Hurricanes were able to build a 21-point lead and hold on while shooting a blazing 55.3 percent from the field and 7-for-12 from three-point range. Miami on the year is averaging 75.6 points per game and hitting 47.7 percent of its shots from the floor. Defensively, it has been able to hold teams to an average of 66.8 points a game.
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<p>The Wildcats were able to shake-off some of their past disappointments in the early rounds of this tournament with a pair of solid victories against UNC Asheville and Iowa by a combined 49 points to cover as favorites in both games. The total went OVER 146.5 points in Sunday's 87-68 romp against Iowa as six-point favorites after staying UNDER 142.5 in the 30-point win over UNC Asheville last Friday afternoon. Villanova is still just 4-6 ATS in its last 10 games with the total going OVER in eight of those contests.
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<p>The Big Two on this Big East team would be senior guard's Josh Hart and Ryan Arcidiacono. Hart put-up a game-high 19 points in Sunday's lopsided win and his backcourt partner added 16 points and four assists while going 2-for-3 from three-point range. Villanova is averaging 78 PPG and shooting 47.4 percent from the field. Defensively, it is one of the top teams in the nation in points allowed (63.7) and it has not allowed more than 70 points in each of its last five games.
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<div class="heading">Miami Hurricanes vs. Villanova Wildcats Game Betting Trends</div>
<p>The Hurricanes are 13-4 ATS in their last 17 nonconference games and they are 21-8-1 ATS in their last 30 games following a SU win. The total has gone OVER in nine of their last 11 NCAA Tournament games.
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<p>The Wildcats have failed to cover in five of their last six games against the ACC and they are 2-6 ATS in their last eight games following a SU win. The total has gone OVER in three of their last five games in the NCAA Tournament.
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<p>The underdog in this matchup has covered in four of the last five meetings dating all the way to the last game between these two teams in 2004.
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Miami Hurricanes vs. Villanova Wildcats Game Prediction

This should be a great battle between two teams boasting a solid backcourt combination of veteran players and you get the feeling that the game will be won or lost in this particular matchup. While I think the Wildcats can squeeze-out the SU win, I still like Miami and the 4.5 points on BetOnline's current spread as my "best bet" pick.

Free Pick: Take the Miami Hurricanes +4.5
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