Villanova vs UConn Prediction: Will the Huskies Actually Take Care of Business?

Villanova vs UConn Prediction: Will the Huskies Actually Take Care of Business?

The Villanova Wildcats have won five straight games and are currently 14-3 in Big East play. However, tonight, on the road, against UConn, the Wildcats are underdogs.

UConn has currently won three straight games and is 10-5 in conference play. However, earlier this season, Villanova beat up UConn, at home, 85-74. UConn had no answers defensively in that one.

Will homecourt advantage change the outcome of tonight's game? Here are our picks and predictions for the Big East matchup between the Villanova Wildcats and the UConn Huskies.

Villanova vs UConn Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

• Date: Tuesday, February 22
• Game Time: 8:00 pm ET
• Where to Watch: FS1

Click Here for Villanova vs UConn odds

Villanova vs UConn Injury Report

Villanova

Questionable: G Connor Gillespie (Ankle)

UConn

Out: F Akok Akok (Out)

Villanova vs UConn Line Movement

Villanova vs UConn Prediction

ln the first meeting between these two teams, the Connecticut Huskies scored 74 points, thanks to 30 points in the final 10 minutes of the game. The Huskies hit 56.2 percent of shots inside the arc and were 40 percent from deep in that game. Ultimately, the Huskies did enough to win most games on the offensive end, but it didn't help that they turned the ball over 15 times.

Meanwhile, Villanova was also red hot from the field and had a more balanced offense in this game. The Wildcats shot over 60 percent from inside the arc and 54.5 percent from outside. However, the Wildcats only took 11 threes in the entire game and stayed aggressive, getting to the line 22 times while making 21 foul shots.

The Villanova offense is shooting an effective field goal percentage of 52.4 percent while turning the ball over just 15.4 percent of the time. The Wildcats are knocking down 36.2 percent of threes and 50.9 percent of twos while hitting nearly 83 percent of foul shots this season. The Wildcats aren't amazing at getting to the line, but UConn will foul at a higher rate and allow Villanova to get attempts at the line, just like last game.

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Connecticut is holding teams to 34 percent from three and 42 percent from inside, but in that first meeting, the defense inside the arc wasn't performing nearly as effectively as they had been against other teams.

The Huskies aren't going to force a whole lot of turnovers and might get beat on the defensive glass here and there as well.

Meanwhile, Connecticut has been stellar on the offensive glass, earning 38 percent of rebounds. That's going to be needed because the Huskies shoot just 48 percent from inside the arc this season. While UConn has also hit 35 percent of threes, they won't be taking nearly as many threes as Villanova in this game.

Plus, Villanova has held opponents to 31.3 percent from deep and 48 percent from inside the arc. Of course, the only reason why the Huskies are favorites in tonight's game is that they're home.

It's going to be an electric atmosphere, but any time you can get Villanova as an underdog, you've got to take it.

Villanova Wildcats vs UConn Huskies Pick

• Villanova +2 (-110) (Bet $110 to Win $100)