College Basketball Preview: UConn Huskies vs. Villanova Wildcats

The ninth-ranked UConn Huskies (12-3) seek to add onto their winning streak when they face the Villanova Wildcats (10-5) on January 8 at 6:30 PM ET at Finneran Pavilion in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The Huskies are favored with a point spread at -1.0 (-110) at MyBookie.

UConn Huskies Betting Preview

After starting off the season 4-3, the Huskies have turned things around and have won their last eight games with two of those against top-15 ranked opponents. Their most recent win was an 87-84 outing against the Providence Friars.

They were down by as many as 14 points and had a strong second half showing with 60 points to roar back and take the win. Hassan Diarra led with 19 points and eight assists.

Their offense made 56.3 percent of their shots and 46.2 percent from deep, which shows how strong on offense they were. On defense they allowed the Friars to make half of their shots, while netting 30.8 percent from three. The Huskies definitely had a scare here, but luckily they produced offensively to get it done.

The Huskies are averaging 83.9 points per game and are making 49.7 percent of their shot attempts. Their defense has been giving up 68.6 points a game. So far, this spread has been great when they are playing well on both ends of the floor.     

Villanova Wildcats Betting Preview

The Wildcats have won their last two games, with their latest victory being a 100-56 blowout over the DePaul Blue Demons. This was the first time they had reached 100 on the season, with three games coming in close with 91 points or more.

They had a strong second half on both ends of the floor, as they put up 52 points and held the Blue Demons to 24. Eric Dixon leads the team in scoring at 25.9 points a game, and he led the team in their victory with 25 points.

The Wildcats nearly doubled their shooting percentages in comparison to the Blue Demons. They put up 59.7 percent from the field and 59.3 percent from beyond the arc. This was an exciting development on the offensive end.

Their stats are similar to the Huskies, as they average 80.1 points per game and make 49.3 percent of their shots. On defense they have allowed 66.9 points a game.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

MyBookie offers the UConn Huskies vs. Villanova Wildcats Sooners betting odds. These odds reflect the Huskies favored by a point. Looking at market analysis, it suggests the Huskies have a 55.5 percent likelihood of winning outright.

Dixon will likely have a good game, but it will not be enough to topple the Huskies. The Huskies have a great opportunity to cover the spread.

Final Pick: UConn Huskies -1.0 (-110)