Villanova vs. Memphis Prediction: Can David Jones, Tigers Win the Battle 4 Atlantis Championship?
The Memphis Tigers will take on the Villanova Wildcats in the Championship of the Battle 4 Atlantis on Friday afternoon. Can David Jones and the Tigers upset the Wildcats in the tournament final? Ben Rajavuori breaks down the battle with his Villanova vs. Memphis pick.
Ben Rajavuori - November 24, 2023, 1:42 AM EST
5 minVillanova vs. Memphis Prediction: Can David Jones, Tigers Win the Battle 4 Atlantis Championship?
The Memphis Tigers and Villanova Wildcats meet in the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis Championship today in the Bahamas. Villanova beat Texas Tech and North Carolina to get here, while Memphis beat Michigan and Arkansas to get here. Memphis are slight 3.5-point underdogs today. Which team takes the Championship?
Villanova vs. Memphis Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: November 24, 2023
- Game Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: ESPN
Villanova vs. Memphis Odds
- Spread: Villanova -3.5 (-110), Memphis +3.5 (-110)
- Total Odds: O/U 144.5 (-110)
- Moneyline Odds: Villanova (-160), Memphis (+135)
Villanova Wildcats vs. Memphis Tigers Prediction
The Tigers have started their season 5-0 under Penny Hardaway, who has been with the program since the 2019 season. Memphis has been battle-tested early this season with two quad-one games in this tournament, passing the test and winning both. Hardaway is starting to show his impact on this program, as he has led the Tigers to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in the last two seasons.
Hardaway got busy in the offseason and picked up some excellent transfers and talented freshmen. One of my favorite transfers is David Jones, who comes from St. John's, another team that plays at a ferocious pace. Jones is immediately comfortable with this offense because it is very similar to the offense of St. John's, and he is a perfect fit for the program. Memphis also got Caleb Mills from Florida State and Jahvon Quinerly from Alabama. Hardaway also picked up two top-100 recruits in Javonte Taylor and Ashton Hardaway, who is the coach's son. Ashton hit five threes against Michigan on Wednesday against Michigan and played a big role in the win with his 17 points.
Villanova is in their second year under Kyle Neptune after Jay Wright retired. Last year was not the opening Neptune wanted, going 16-15 in the regular season and 10-10 in conference play. They missed the NCAA Tournament after losing in the second round of the Big East tournament, but 2023 is off to a better start. The Wildcats are 5-1, with the one loss being a bad loss to Penn.
The Wildcats lost Cam Whitmore and Caleb Daniels in the offseason, but Justin Moore and Eric Dixon returned, and they have been the leaders of this offense in their senior seasons. The Wildcats also got Tyler Burton from Richmond, TJ Bamba from Washington State, and Hakim Hart from Maryland. The veteran group looks much better than last year's Villanova team, and they have a real shot to make noise in the Big East this season.
I like Memphis to take this game with their pace of play. Penny Hardaway has built quite the offense in Memphis, and they look similar to an NBA-style offense. David Jones was a perfect addition to the team, and the Tigers can score with any team in the nation. Villanova's defense isn't quite the same as it was under Jay Wright, and I don't see them slowing the Tigers down. They will have to play catch up and try to stop the Tigers in transition, and I think they will be overwhelmed. Memphis is also catching 3.5 points, giving us some insurance if they lose a close one. I like Penny Hardaway and the Tigers to win this tournament.
Villanova Wildcats vs. Memphis Tigers Pick
Pick: Memphis Tigers +3.5 -110 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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