Villanova vs. Baylor NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Odds, Picks and Prediction

A Sweet 16 matchup features the No. 1 seed Baylor Bears (22-2) playing as 6.5-point favorites against the No. 5 seed Villanova Wildcats (16-6) on Saturday

A Sweet 16 matchup features the No. 1 seed Baylor Bears (22-2) playing as 6.5-point favorites against the No. 5 seed Villanova Wildcats (16-6) on Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The NCAA Tournament matchup starts at 5:15 PM ET, with the winner moving on to the South Region bracket final.

On Sunday, the Bears faced Wisconsin and emerged victorious, 76-63. The Bears were favored by 6.5 points and covered the spread while the teams combined to go over the 136.5 point total.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl led the way for the Wildcats with a team-high 18 points last time out as they picked up a 84-61 win over North Texas and covered the 6-point spread as favorites. The teams combined to go over the 126 point total set for the matchup.

Villanova at Baylor: Betting odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list.
Lines last updated at 1:25 PM ET on March 27, 2021.

  • Money line: Villanova +250 (bet $100 to win $250) | Baylor -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Villanova +7.5 (-110) | Baylor -7.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under: 141.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Baylor: Three things to know

  • Jared Butler leads the Bears scoring 16.9 points per game. Butler leads the squad with a team-high 2.5 made three-pointers per game.
  • The 83.8 points per game the Bears record are 17.1 more points than the Wildcats give up (66.7).
  • When Baylor puts up more than 66.7 points, it is 24-1 overall and 14-0-1 against the spread.

Special College Basketball Betting Promotion!

Risk-free first bet up to $600! Promotion available in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA and WV.

Place your legal, online sports bets at BetMGM Sportsbook! Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Villanova: Three things to know

  • Robinson-Earl leads the Wildcats in scoring (16.0 points per game) and rebounding (8.3 rebounds per game). Collin Gillespie leads the squad with a team-high 2.1 made three-pointers per game.
  • The Wildcats’ 75.8 points per game are 10 more points than the 65.8 the Bears give up to opponents.
  • Villanova has compiled an 18-3 overall record and a 14-0 ATS record in games where it scores more than 65.8 points.

Villanova at Baylor: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Baylor 75, Villanova 71

Money line

The Baylor Bears are favored to win this matchup according to both BetMGM and the model.

Against the spread (ATS)

The spread for this game suggested by the model (4.2 points) is slightly less than the 7.5-point edge MGM gives to the Bears, though the data still has them as the favorite.

Over/Under (O/U)

In this matchup, the model projects a total (146.1 points) significantly higher than the MGM over/under (141.5 points). Bet on the over.

Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Additional college sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

Alabama / Auburn / Florida / Georgia / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Tennessee / Texas / USC / Wisconsin

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

Powered by Data Skrive

March Madness: Baylor vs. Villanova odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Saturday’s Baylor Bears vs. Villanova Wildcats odds and lines, with March Madness Sweet 16 picks and predictions.

The Baylor Bears (24-2) take on the Villanova Wildcats (18-6) in a South Region Sweet 16 game Saturday. The top-seeded Bears and fifth-seeded Wildcats will tip-off at 5:15 p.m. ET at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Below, we analyze the Baylor-Villanova odds and lines, with March Madness NCAA Tournament picks and predictions.

Baylor finished No. 3 in the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports. The high-scoring Bears (85.3 points per game, third NCAA) won their first 18 games this season. They fell 83-74 to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Tournament, but they’ve coasted to two wins over Hartford and Wisconsin in this tournament.

The Wildcats advanced to this level with two relatively easy wins: A 73-63 triumph over Winthrop and an 84-61 victory over North Texas. ‘Nova is solid at both ends of the floor. On offense, the Wildcats are frequent launchers of 3-point attempts. In their Sunday win over UNT, they went 15-for-30 from distance to match a season-high for most treys made.

Baylor vs. Villanova: Odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 11:25 a.m. ET.

  • Money line: Baylor -300 (bet $300 to win $100) | Villanova +240 (bet $100 to win $240)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Baylor -7.5 (-110) | Villanova +7.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under: 140.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

March Madness betting promotions 

Current March Madness offers from BetMGM Sportsbook:

Bet $1 on any team’s money line, WIN $100 (in free bets) if ANY team hits a 3-pointer that day. Bet now!

RISK-FREE FIRST BET, up to $600! Bet now!

Offers available in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA and WV. New customer offers, terms and conditions apply.

Baylor vs. Villanova: Odds, lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Baylor 75, Villanova 70

Money line (ML)

The Bears are first in the nation in 3-point accuracy (42.9%). Baylor creates a lot of turnovers (37 through two tourney games) which fuels a solid transition game.

Villanova is trying to make a March run without senior G Collin Gillespie (knee), who averaged 14.0 points and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 37.6% from beyond the arc in 20 games this season.

Defensively, the Wildcats are playing some of their best basketball of the season. Over their last eight games, the Wildcats have held opponents to a 39.6% mark from the floor and a 29.9% mark from 3-point land. They just haven’t played anything really all that close to what this BU offense has to offer.

Peg Baylor as a near-80% proposition Saturday; BACK THE BEARS (-300).

Play our new, free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

Against the spread (ATS)

The Bears are 3-6 against the spread in their last nine games.

Confidence in Baylor to win by three or more scores is not high. PASS.

Over/Under (O/U)

The Over is 8-2 in the Bears’ last 10 games. Among the group of teams remaining, BU’s defense is below average. The game flow of this contest leans toward the leader down the stretch answering runs with baskets, not stops.

TAKE THE OVER 140.5 (-110) which figures as the strongest of these three plays.

Want some action on this game or others? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

More college sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

Alabama / Auburn / Florida / Georgia / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Tennessee / Texas / USC / Wisconsin

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1667]

Baylor vs. Villanova odds: Bears favored in Sweet 16 battle

Previewing Saturday’s Baylor Bears vs. Villanova Wildcats odds and lines for their March Madness Sweet 16 matchup.

The Villanova Wildcats (18-6) take on the Baylor Bears (24-2) in an NCAA South Region semifinal Saturday evening. The fifth-seeded Wildcats and top-seeded Bears are scheduled for a 5:15 p.m. ET tip-off at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Below, we’re taking an early look at the March Madness Sweet 16 Villanova-Baylor odds and lines. Don’t forget to check out all of the remaining teams’ March Madness odds, and check back later in the week for our full Sweet 16 breakdowns, picks and predictions.

Villanova came into the tournament having lost three of its last four games in the regular season and Big East Tournament. The Wildcats advanced to this level with two relatively easy wins: A 73-63 triumph over Winthrop and an 84-61 victory over North Texas.

‘Nova is solid at both ends of the floor. On offense, the Wildcats are frequent launchers of 3-point attempts. In their Sunday win over UNT, they went 15-for-30 from distance, tying a season-high for most treys made.

Defensively, Villanova is playing some of its best basketball of the season. Over their last eight games, the Wildcats have held opponents to a 39.6% mark from the floor and a 29.9% mark from 3-point-land.

VU is trying to make a March run without senior G Collin Gillespie (knee), who averaged 14.0 points and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 37.6% from beyond the arc in 20 games this season.

Baylor is No. 3 in the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports. The high-scoring Bears (83.8 points per game, fourth NCAA) won their first 18 games this season. They fell to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Tournament, but they’ve coasted to two wins over Hartford and Wisconsin in this tournament.

The Bears are first in the nation in 3-point accuracy (41.5%). Among the group of teams remaining, BU’s defense is below average. Baylor creates a lot of turnovers (37 through two tourney games) which fuels a solid transition game. The Bears are 3-6 against the spread in their last nine games. The Over is 8-2 in their last 10.

PLAY: Did you know we now have a free, daily pick’em game?

Baylor vs. Villanova: Odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 8:40 a.m. ET.

  • Money line: Baylor -300 (bet $300 to win $100) | Villanova +240 (bet $100 to win $240)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Baylor -6.5 (-110) | Villanova +6.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under: 139 (O: -110| U: -110)

March Madness betting promotions 

Current March Madness offers from BetMGM Sportsbook:

Bet $1 on any team’s money line, WIN $100 (in free bets) if ANY team hits a 3-pointer that day. Bet now!

RISK-FREE FIRST BET, up to $600! Bet now!

Offers available in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA and WV. New customer offers, terms and conditions apply.

Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

More college sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

Alabama / Auburn / Florida / Georgia / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Tennessee / Texas / USC / Wisconsin

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1667]