Delaware vs. Villanova Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
Perched as the No. 2 seed in the South Region, the Wildcats return to the Big Dance riding a five-game win streak, capped by slender 54-48 win over Creighton in the Big Ten Tournament final. Delaware makes its first appearance at the NCAA Tournament since 2014 as the No. 15 seed after coming out of the weeds to claim the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament title with a trio of upset wins.
The Wildcats have emerged as heavy 15.5-point favourites to win on the NCAA basketball odds in their bid to claim an eighth straight tournament-opening victory. The Fightin’ Blue Hens lag as distant +744 moneyline underdogs as they search for their first ever victory at the Big Dance, and the total is pegged at 133.5.
Delaware vs. Villanova NCAA Tournament Point Spread and Betting
Friday afternoon’s matchup at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh is set for 2:45pm ET, and marks the first meeting between these teams since December 2019. The Wildcats have dominated in 10 previous dates with Delaware, going undefeated while claiming victory by an average margin of 16.8 points per game. However, Villanova has managed to cover in just three of their past six head-to-head meetings, and in just two of five while pegged as double-digit favourites. With Delaware failing to crack 50 points in two of their past three versus Nova, the UNDER enjoys a 2-1-0 run. However, these two teams have combined to score at least 140 total points in five of their past eight clashes.
The Wildcats have been a model of consistency since Christmas, racking up a 19-3 straight up record. However, they have fallen short of sports bettor expectations during the second half of the season, going 5-9-1 against the spread in their final 15 contests while failing to cover in five of six as double-digit chalk. Delaware was forced to settle for a fourth-place finish in the CAA standings, but has been steady on the road, winning nine of 10 away from home hardwood at Acierno Arena at the Bob Carpenter Center including four outright victories as betting underdogs.
Delaware Blue Hens (15)
The Fightin’ Blue hens impressed with fast starts during their drive to the CAA Tournament title, surrendering an average of fewer than 25 first-half points. The squad also maintained their composure after briefly blowing a second-half lead in their final clash with UNC Wilmington, sealing the win with a 15-10 run. Jyare Davis played a crucial role in the team’s tourney success. The CAA Rookie of the year added Tournament MVP honours to his resume while averaging 16.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
Villanova Wildcats (2)
The Wildcats have been a consistent force this season, racking up over 72 points per game and climbing to No. 8 in adjusted offensive efficiency at Kenpom. But it has been the Villanova defence that has shone of late. The Wildcats limited opponents to under 38 per cent shooting from the field in three of their past four outings, and to 61.9 points per game over their past seven outings.
