The 5-seed Villanova Wildcats (16-6) take on the 12-seed Winthrop Eagles (23-1) Friday at Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis for a 9:57 p.m. ET tip-off. Below, we analyze the Villanova-Winthrop odds and lines, with March Madness NCAA Tournament picks and predictions.
The Wildcats were stunned in their first game of the Big East Tournament against eventual champ Georgetown 72-71 March 11. Villanova has had a tough time adjusting after losing senior G Collin Gillespie to a season-ending knee injury March 3. In the two games without him, the ‘Cats are 0-2 SU/ATS, averaging just 61.5 PPG.
Winthrop ran through the Big South en route to its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2017. While the Eagles had tremendous success in the regular season, that hasn’t always been the case in the Big Dance. They have won just once in 10 appearances, a 2007 first-round win over Notre Dame before bowing out to Oregon as an 11-seed. Their current 12-seed is the second-highest in school history behind that 2007 club.
Villanova vs. Winthrop: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:19 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Villanova -300 (bet $300 to win $100) | Winthrop +230 (bet $100 to win $230)
- Against the spread/ATS: Villanova -7 (-110) | Winthrop +7 (-110)
- Over/Under: 142.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Villanova vs. Winthrop: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Villanova 77, Winthrop 72
Money line (ML)
Villanova (-300) will cost you three times your potential return. It’s a little risky since the Wildcats are 0-2 SU/ATS since Gillespie went down, and they’re facing a Winthrop side that has lost just once this season. But who have the Eagles really played in the Big South? They played just one NCAA Tournament team in UNC Greensboro, and that was in the opener Dec. 1 on a neutral floor. The Eagles beat the Spartans 75-67 as six-point underdogs, but again, their strength of schedule is a little suspect.
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Against the spread (ATS)
WINTHROP +7 (-110) could give Villanova a scare as the Eagles have rolled up 79.2 PPG to rank 35th in the nation. Again, their SOS wasn’t great, and they played just one quality opponent. ‘Nova should put up plenty of points against Winthrop’s defense, which coughs up points to the tune of 68.3 PPG, ranking 123rd in the country.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 142.5 (-115) is the play. Winthrop averaged 81.7 PPG in its three Big South Tournament games. Even through the Under went 2-0-1 in those contests, and 5-0-1 in the Eagles’ past six, Villanova is a much more quality opponent, who will put up points. The Wildcats, who hit the Over in their loss to Georgetown, averaged 75.8 PPG during the season, while hitting 35.5% of their 3-pointers. It won’t be a track meet, but it won’t be a defensive slog, either.
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