Villanova vs. UCLA Prediction
No. 4 Villanova will take on No. 2 UCLA in L.A. on Friday night at 11:30 p.m. ET. With the Bruins laying 4.5 points and the total sitting at 138.5, what’s the best play when it comes to this top-5 matchup?
Game Snapshot
887 Villanova Wildcats (+4.5) at 888 UCLA Bruins (-4.5); o/u 138.5
11:30 p.m. ET, Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom, Los Angeles, CA
TV: ESPN2
Villanova Wildcats DFS Snapshot
Collin Gillespie was named the 2021-22 Big East Preseason Player of the Year on Tuesday. After sharing Big East POY honors with Sandro Mamukelashvili a season ago and electing to return for a fifth season, it’s no surprise to see Gillespie get the nod here. He’s one of the best all-around fantasy assets among power-conference players as well, coming off a season in which he averaged 14.0 ppg, 4.6 apg and 3.3 rpg. He may even have to offer more from an individual standpoint this year, as the projected first-place Wildcats won’t bring back leading scorer Jeremiah Robinson-Early and the 15.7 ppg he provided. Joining Gillespie on the all-conference first team is Providence’s Nate Watson, St. John’s Julian Champagnie, Seton Hall’s Jared Rhoden and Xavier’s Paul Scruggs and Zach Freemantle.
UCLA Bruins DFS Snapshot
Johnny Juzang announced via his personal Instagram on Wednesday that he’s withdrawn his name from the 2021 NBA Draft and will return to UCLA for the 2021-22 season, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reports. It’s a big day for UCLA, as both Juzang and Cody Riley announced they’ll be returning to college for at least another season. Juzang averaged 16.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists over 32.1 minutes in 27 games last season while leading the Bruins to the Final Four.
College Basketball Betting Prediction
The Wildcats are 0-5 against the spread in their last five road games, are 1-5 against the number in their last six games following an ATS win and are 0-5 at the betting window in their last five road games versus a team with a winning home record. On the other side, the Bruins are 7-0 against the spread in their last seven games overall, are 15-6-1 against the number in their last 22 home games and are 20-7-1 at the betting window in their last 21 games following an ATS win.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL BETTING PREDICTION: UCLA BRUINS -4.5