Villanova will be favored in this one, but it certainly won’t be a cakewalk. The Badgersare a solid opponent who came away with a decisive win over Virginia Tech in the first round.
The Wildcats are one of the favorites for the national championship, but must be crisper if they want to make a deep run in this tournament. They will aim to flex their muscle in this one and move on to the Sweet Sixteen.
At 2:40 p.m. ET, tune into CBS for live television coverage of this NCAA basketball game on Saturday, March 18, 2017, at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
We'll have NCAA basketball odds available for this and every game on the college basketball Saturday schedule.
College Basketball Odds
Villanova is 31-3 straight up and 19-15 against the spread. The Wildcats have played in eight neutral site games on the season, covering half. Villanova didn’t cover in its opening round game against Mount Saint Mary’s even though the final score ended up being a 20-point difference. The Wildcats have been favored in every game this season and it won’t change here.
Wisconsin is 26-9 straight up and 16-16 against the spread. The Badgers have played in eight neutral court games on the year and have covered four of them, including the game against the Hokies. Wisconsin has only been the underdog three times this season but has failed to cover in any of those attempts.
Player to Watch
Josh Hart -- The Villanova senior guard leads a talented senior class that’s impossible to deny. He along with fellow seniors Kris Jenkins and Darryl Reynolds have had the type of college careers that most players just dream about, but the trio will be looking to extend that ride through April 3rd.
Hart is averaging 18.9 points and 6.5 rebounds this season. He finished with 29 points in the Big East tournament title game against Creighton on March 11th and had 11 points against Mount St. Mary’s on Thursday.
Hart was a big part of last year’s national championship squad, averaging 15 points in the 2016 NCAA tournament. His experience and playmaking abilities make him a big threat this year again.
Key Stat
8. That’s how many three-pointers Wisconsin guard Bronson Koenig hit in the game, which was an NCAA Tournament record. He had 28 points in all and the team’s three-point shooting will be crucial against Villanova.
Koenig is averaging 14.1 points per game and is shooting 38.7 percent from three-point range on the season. He will aim to have another big game in the next round.
Wisconsin found a big advantage downtown and on the glass, which helped it to the win over the Virginia Tech. The Badgers will need to do both well to stick around in this one.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
Villanova will have to work to win this one. While it has a bunch of firepower, the Badgers play a methodical style and will work for good shots. The Wildcats would love to push the pace and get extra possessions, but Wisconsin rarely lets that happen.
Wisconsin couldn’t have been happy with its seeding by the selection committee, and thus is forced to play the defending champions in the second round. The Badgers should be able to keep this one close, but look for Hart and the other key Villanova players to hit some big shots.
The Wildcats should escape with this victory but they will get a scare. Keep an eye on the scoring total. Both teams have extremely good defenses, and while Villanova is more willing to push the pace, expect a slowdown affair.
There won’t be a ton of points in this one, which should keep it close.
College Basketball Odds: Villanova 72, Wisconsin 67
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