Villanova at Penn odds, picks and predictions
The Villanova Wildcats (2-0) and Penn Quakers (2-1) tussle in an all-city contest at the historic Palestra in Philadelphia Monday. Tip is at 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Villanova vs. Penn odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
Villanova is No. 20 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll. The Wildcats failed to play over-.500 ball (they went 17-17) for the 1st time since 2011-12. 'Nova was active in bringing transfers onboard to try and get back to the 25-to-30-win plateau where the Wildcats lived most seasons from 2013-22. Villanova opened its season with 2 easy wins -- 90-63 vs. American and 83-57 vs. Le Moyne -- and a 1-1 split against the spread.
The Quakers have been busy so far. They played 3 games last week, beating John Jay College 102-57 and Bucknell 80-61, while losing Friday 69-61 as 6.5-point road underdogs at Saint Joseph's.
Villanova is 18-2 in the last 20 vs. Penn (since 2002), winning the last 3 and 18 of the last 19.
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Villanova at Penn odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:02 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Villanova -690 (bet $690 to win $100) | Penn +480 (bet $100 to win $480)
- Against the spread (ATS): Villanova -11.5 (-102) | Penn +11.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 140.5 (O: -114 | U: -106)
Villanova at Penn picks and predictions
Prediction
Villanova 77, Penn 63
Moneyline
PASS. There's no value with Villanova (-690) where one must risk 6.9 times the potential return.
Against the spread
Villanova is mixing and matching an influx of transfer talent with holdovers from last season, but the group as a whole has quite a bit more experience than Penn.
While the Wildcats have won the last 3 meetings, the Quakers have covered the spread 4 games in a row. Last season, Villanova won 70-59 with Penn covering as a 14.5-point underdog (Dec. 7).
This Wildcats team should prove to be better on the glass than last season's squad. Look for the more veteran 'Nova team to close this out with a decent enough chance of clocking a 15-point win.
BACK VILLANOVA -11.5 (-102).
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Over/Under
The Under has cashed in 3 straight meetings between these 2, but the Over prevailed in the 4 meetings prior (2015-18).
Figure this one as being ticketed for a slow pace but with plenty of Villanova 3's, 2nd-chance looks and transition buckets. Last season's game was Under by 11 (on an O/U line of 140).
Something close to 140 combined points is where this one figures to settle. AVOID.
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