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2018 March Madness Betting Preview: Villanova vs. Radford

2018 March Madness Betting Preview: Villanova vs. Radford

Written by on March 14, 2018

NCAAB News and Betting Previews| Xbet.ag
The Radford Highlanders survived their Tuesday night play-in against LIU-Brooklyn in the First Four, and their reward is a trip to Pittsburgh as the 16-seed to take on top-seed and March Madness Betting huge favorite Villanova Wildcats on Thursday night. Radford also won the Big South Tournament to qualify for the Big Dance in the first place. Villanova won the Big East Tournament, taking down the Providence Friars in a closely fought championship game that went to overtime. Take a look at our College Basketball Betting preview of this first-round tilt.

Wildcats vs. Highlanders 2018 March Madness Betting Preview

When: Thursday, March 15, 2018, 6:50 pm ET Where: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh TV: TNT Radio: TuneIn Live Stream: March Madness Live NCAAB Odds: Villanova Wildcats -23.5

Team Records

  • All: Radford Highlanders 23-12 / Villanova Wildcats 30-4
  • Home: Radford Highlanders 14-2 / Villanova Wildcats 19-1
  • Away: Radford Highlanders 9-10 / Villanova Wildcats 11-3
  • ATS: Radford Highlanders 6-4 / Villanova Wildcats 21-12-1
  • Over/Under: Radford Highlanders 2-7 / Villanova Wildcats 23-11

Why should you put your money on the Highlanders?

Radford put the screws to LIU-Brooklyn in that First Four victory, taming a Blackbirds offense that had been scoring at a high clip. Radford shot 47.5% for the game and limited LIU-Brooklyn to just 38% in their ten-point win. Ed Polite Jr. posted a double-double, scoring 13 points and pulling down 13 boards. On the season, he has averaged 13.5 points and 7.9 boards per contest. Carlik Jones also had a double-double, with 12 points and 11 rebounds. He has at least 12 points in his last four games. While they only score 67.5 points per game (311th in the nation), their opponents have only scored 64.3 points per game (13th). If you like Radford, then you see Villanova coming in with a little less energy, thanks to the fact that they’re playing a 16-seed. However, the fact that Providence took them to overtime in the Big East final should have served as a wake-up call. Radford only has two players averaging double figures, and they will be playing a team that scores points in bunches. It was one thing to keep LIU-Brooklyn down — can they do something similar to Villanova? If not, they will have a hard time even covering this large spread.

Why should you bet on the Wildcats?

Villanova was taken to the limit by Providence, not just in that conference championship game but during the regular season, as the Friars won the home matchup between the two in Big East play. However, Villanova prevailed when it counted, outscoring the Friars by 10 in the extra frame. Jalen Brunson put up 31 points in that title game, and he is shooting 60% or better in three of his last four contests. On the season, he averaged 19.4 points per game and shot 53% from the floor. Mikal Bridges also had a clutch tournament, averaging 22.7 points per contest. Villanova comes in as huge March Madness Betting favorites against Radford. Villanova has won five in a row, and they have scored more than 90 points in four of their last eight contests. They have four different shooters who make 38% or more of their shots from behind the arc. Their 87.1 point per game average leads the nation, and while they permit 70.9 points per game (141st in the nation), their offense gives them a significant cushion — and their quick pace gives opponents more possessions. Villanova has covered the spread in six of their last seven neutral-site matchups, and in 48 of their last 70 games outside the Big East. They have four different players who can knock down shots from downtown, and as a team, they are shooting 50% from the field. Radford does have a plucky defense, but they are not used to playing the kind of talent that Villanova will have on the floor.

Latest March Madness Betting Trends

  • Villanova is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
  • Villanova is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
  • The total has gone OVER in 6 of Villanova’s last 7 games

Expert March Madness Betting Pick & Final Score Prediction

While I expect Radford to come out with a lot of energy, the burden of traveling to Dayton and then to Pittsburgh for games Tuesday and then Thursday will take their toll. Then there’s the large number of options that Villanova has, both inside and outside, on offense. They have the guard speed to frustrate Radford and they also have the height advantage inside. I predict a tight start but a big win for Villanova. I’m predicting a final score of Villanova 90, Radford 65.
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