Villanova fought their way to win a fifth Big East tournament title in seven years with a 54-48 win over Creighton. Head coach Jay Wright leads an experienced Wildcats team into March Madness as a No. 2 seed in the South Region. The Wildcats clawed their way to a National Championship in 2016 and 2018. Can they cut down the nets again in 2022?
After the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, Villanova advanced to the Sweet 16. They face Michigan on March 24 at 7:29 p.m. on TBS.
Let’s take a look at Villanova’s odds to reach the Final Four and to win the National Championship.
Villanova vs. Houston Elite 8 betting lines and odds at sportsbooks
Elite 8 betting preview: Villanova vs. Houston
- Prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament, Villanova was +125 to make the Elite Eight.
- Round 1: Villanova -15.5: Final Score: Villanova 80, Delaware 60
- Round 2: Villanova -5: Final Score: Villanova 71, Ohio State 61
- Sweet 16: Villanova -5: Final Score: Villanova 63, Michigan 55
Elite 8 Betting preview from DraftKings
- Houston has scored 66+ points in 22 of its last 23 night games.
- Villanova has won each of last 11 tourney games against a lower seed.
- Houston has won the first half in 25 of its last 27 games.
Villanova analysis from Jon Rothstein
Jon Rothstein, college basketball insider for CBS and FanDuel, isn’t sleeping until May. In a recent interview with Play Pennsylvania to talk about the Sweet 16 and how the rest of the NCAA Tournament might play out, Rothstein is drinking water. We are on our third cup of cold brew and expected him to have an IV of caffeine. However, Rothstein says he has never had a cup of coffee. Some people are just fueled by the madness.
Villanova’s experience
“Experience is everything. Collin Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels were able to come back and use an extra year. If you take them off this team, they aren’t in the Sweet 16. They have NCAA Tournament pedigree and National Championship experience and it makes a big difference.”
Villanova’s strengths
“Villanova is so good defensively and they never turn the ball over. They are on pace to be the best free-throw shooting team in the history of college basketball. Villanova basketball is like a Fortune 500 company. This program loses players through graduation and the product looks the same. They are 18-3 in the last 6 NCAA Tournaments and have an outstanding chance to get to the Final Four.”
No respect for Villanova
At the start of the NCAA Tournament, Villanova did not crack the Top Ten at DraftKings for most-bet teams (by handle) to win the National Championship or make the Final Four. At BetMGM, 4% of the money is on Nova to make the Final Four.
2022 Final Four prediction and odds
Rothstein has the three No. 1 seeds (Arizona, Gonzaga, Kansas) and Purdue advancing to the Final Four.
“Look at the parity we are seeing. Look at what the No. 1 seeds dealt with. It’s not anarchy. It’s just college basketball,” said Rothstein.
Odds to win the 2022 NCAA National Championship
Lead image Darron Cummings/AP
