Houston Cougars vs Villanova Wildcats Betting Preview/Prop Pick

The South Region of the NCAA Tournament still had the top two seeds left heading into the Sweet 16, but that is not the case in the Elite Eight. It will be the Houston Cougars taking on the Villanova Wildcats in the regional final, and a trip to the Final Four will be on the line. 

Houston is the number five seed in the South Region, but they might have been a bit underseeded. The Cougars have pulled off two straight upsets over Illinois and Arizona, and both of those wins have been by double-digits. 

Villanova is the number two seed in the South Region, and they have looked the part in their first three NCAA Tournament games. The Wildcats haven’t been blowing teams out, but they also have faced very little late-game pressure. 

The Houston Cougars are 2.5-point betting favorites over the Villanova Wildcats in the South Region Final. 

Dominant Defense Leading Cougars

The defensive numbers from Houston this season are staggering, and they have played even better over the last two tournament games. Houston gave up just 53 points against Illinois and then held an explosive Arizona team to just 60 in the Sweet 16. 

The Cougars have not been a great offensive teams at times during the regular season, but they have found scoring in March. Kyler Edwards leads the way with 14 points per game, and he continues to make big shots. 

Houston is an elite offensive rebounding team, and they just control the paint on both ends of the floor. The Cougars are looking for their second straight Final Four appearance, and that experience will come in handy on Saturday. 

Wildcats Have Winning Formula

The overall numbers from Villanova never jump off of the page, but this is a team that simply knows how to win. Villanova has been tested in each of the last two rounds, but they always seem to make winning plays when needed. 

The Wildcats are scoring over 72 points per game this season, and they are holding opponents to less than 60. Villanova is comfortable slowing this game down against Houston, and they will be looking for a great shot on every possession.

Collin Gillespie leads this team with close to 16 points per game, and he is usually the player that is taking the big shots. The Wildcats should get shots from the perimeter against Houston, but they will have to shoot it well. 

Cougars Keep on Winning

Both of these teams in this game are extremely tough, and that should lead to an intense battle on the floor. Villanova is one of the most efficient offenses in the country, but Houston is absolutely terrific on the defensive end of the floor.

Don’t expect much separation in this game, as both teams just know how to make plays when needed. The Wildcats will have to shoot the ball well to stay in this one, but Houston will make that difficult. 

Bet the Houston Cougars -2.5 as they find just enough offense to get past the Villanova Wildcats and advance to the Final Four. 

Prop Pick

Villanova (-120) UNDER 63.5 Points

Houston is allowing 58.9 points per game on defense, which ranks No. 7 in the nation, while holding teams to 37.2 percent shooting, which ranks No. 1. Scores have gone UNDER in seven of the Cougars last 10 games overall.

With Dunkel predicting a Houston victory by the score of 67-61, take the Wildcats (-120) to finish UNDER their Vegas team total of 63.5 points against the Cougars.

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