Penn vs Villanova Game Information

Penn vs Villanova Preview

This Big 5 showdown sees Ivy League Conference side Pennsylvania (2-2, 1-1 on Road) facing Big East heavyweights Villanova (2-3, 2-1 at Home) on Tuesday night in the City of Brotherly Love and 3-Point Pops. The Classic (Philadelphia) Big 5 included these two schools along with St. Joseph’s, La Salle, and Temple, but at the start of last 2023-24 NCAA basketball season it expanded to include Drexel (CAA). Both teams head into this matchup losers of 2 straight. Penn lost to Lafayette (65-63) and to St. Joseph’s (86-69) in a Big 5 encounter—and game we correctly predicted for you here—while the Wildcats also lost to Big 5 foes St. Joe’s (83-76) and in their last game, here at Home vs Virginia (70-60), so a disappointing start so far for Villanova.

Penn Rides 5-Game ATS Loss Streak into Nova Showdown

Penn (0-4 ATS, 2-2-0 O/U) has been one of the worst ATS teams in College Basketball, so fading them until Ivy League play tips off seems like a good idea. The Quakers went 10-17 ATS last season and are now 10-21 against the betting number in their last 31, and like so many teams, are their own worst enemy in many facets of the game. Penn ranked No. 305 in Free Throw Percentage (68.%), were No. 320 in Three-point Shooting, were No. 325 in Points Allowed Per Possession, and ranked No. 337 in forcing TOs. This is a poor shooting team that isn’t that strong on defense, so this 0-4 ATS start and 0-5 ATS the last 5 is no surprise. Ethan Roberts (15.8 ppg), Sam Brown (13.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Dylan Williams (11.0 ppg), and Nick Spinoso (11.3 ppg) lead Penn in scoring heading in.

Penn Betting Trends

• Penn is a poor 2-8-0 ATS in its last 10 games
• The Quakers are 9-20 ATS in their last 29 overall
• Penn is 0-3 ATS in its last 3 games on the Road
• The Quakers have won 2 of 10 SU to the Wildcats
• The Over is 7-3 in Penn’s last 10 games overall

Villanova Hoping to Improve After Choppy Start

Villanova (1-4-0 ATS, 5-0-0 O/U) has played 5 games and all 5 have gone Over the Total. The Wildcats have done a good job winning vs. Penn, but a poor job covering ATS. Last year, the Quakers upset the Wildcats, winning outright as 12-Point Underdogs at Home (76-72). Villanova is always favored by big numbers in games here at Home vs Penn (14.5, 13, 21, 26.5, 18) and this Big 5 showdown is no different (12.5). But expect the homeboys to be a little salty after losing to Penn last year and coming in with 2 straight losses. Nova thinks it is the class of the Big 5, but St. Joseph’s is making a run at that Philadelphia basketball distinction this time around. The Wildcats are led in scoring this season by star F Eric Dixon (24.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg), G Wooga Poplar (13.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg), G Jhamir Brickus (11.0 ppg, 4.2 apg) and G Jordan Longino (19.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg).

Villanova Betting Trends

• Villanova is 3-7 ATS in the last 10 series meetings, 2-7 the last 9 
• The Wildcats are 5-0 SU in their last 5 Home games vs Penn
• Villanova Team Total Under is 14-7 last 21 at Home (+6.07 Units, 26% ROI)
• The Wildcats are 16-18 SU their last 34 games (-31.75 Units, -20% ROI)
• The Under is 3-1 in the last 4 series meetings

Penn vs Villanova Prediction and Pick

Villanova was just 18-16 SU last season, so this once proud Big East powerhouse has declined a lot in the last couple of years and in previous seasons, the Wildcats would have beaten teams like St. Joseph’s and Virginia in those early season non-conference scheduling spots. This Penn vs Villanova prediction and free NCAAB pick will look to the Wildcats playing a good game and a lesser opponent where the Cats should have a big rebounding edge. The Site also plays into the pick, but the biggest handicapping edge here relies on how bad Penn is at shooting the basketball, from the Field, from beyond the arc, and from the Free Throw line.Stink, stank, stunk. The Wildcats should win this one by 20 or more with a healthy chip on their shoulders.

Kevin’s Pick: Villanova -12.5