The Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens (5-4) visit Villanova to play the No. 17-ranked Wildcats (8-2) in a game that has the potential to be low-scoring. The game starts at 7:00 pm ET on Tuesday, Dec. 22 and will air on FS1.
The Wildcats are hoping to rebound after their 86-75 loss to Virginia on Saturday. Kris Jenkins finished with 23 points to lead the game. The Fightin’ Blue Hens are coming off a 69-61 loss to Boston College on Saturday. Kory Holden led the game in scoring with 35 points.
Villanova is a big 25-point favorite at home and the Over/Under (O/U) for this matchup is 136 points. The Wildcats have gone 8-2 Straight Up (SU) and 6-3 Against The Spread (ATS). Villanova has been steady from the free throw line, shooting a stellar .742. Villanova is one of the best passing teams in the nation with an average of 16.5 assists per game. Opposing teams know they’re in for a battle when they play Villanova’s stingy defense. The Wildcats are one of the top teams when it comes to defense, allowing just 60.4 points per game. The Wildcats have really locked down opponents on the defensive end, ranking 16th in the country with a .374 opponent field-goal percentage. Villanova has given up very few turnovers with an average of only 9.7 per game.
In the other locker room, the Fightin’ Blue Hens head into the game with records of 2-4-1 ATS and 4-5 SU. Delaware is one of the better rebounding teams in Division I. The Fightin’ Blue Hens average 41.6 rebounds per game, making them the 41st-best team in the country for that category.
Villanova and Delaware will be facing off in their first head-to-head clash of the season. When they last met the Wildcats were winners, bumping their SU record to 6-0 over Delaware in their most recent meetings. The Wildcats also lead the matchup ATS with a record of 4-2. Villanova held the edge in field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers one time in the last five games, while Delaware wasn’t able to do so in that span.
Predictions: SU Winner – Vill, ATS Winner – Vill, O/U – Under
Notes
Villanova is 22-3 SU in its last 25 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Villanova’s last 8 games.
Villanova is 23-2 SU in its last 25 games at home.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Villanova’s last 5 games at home.
Villanova is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Delaware.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Villanova’s last 6 games when playing Delaware.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Villanova’s last 6 games when playing at home against Delaware.
Delaware scores just 65.4 points per away game (ranked 243rd). Villanova ranks 15th in points allowed at home, giving up 55.8 points.
The Villanova Wildcats have a defensive rating of 91.8 (ranked 29th), while the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens have an offensive rating of 101.7 (ranked 238th).
The Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens average a field goal percentage of 39.3% this season. The Villanova Wildcats have a losing record of 1-2 when opponents have a FG% of 39.3% or greater.
The Villanova Wildcats average 30.0 three point attempts per game, and the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens attempt 19.0 per game. When going for at least 20 three pointers in a game this season, both teams have winning records; Villanova is 8-2 and Delaware is 3-1.
The Villanova Wildcats rank 12th with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.70, while the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens rank outside the top 100 (214th) with an A/TO of .98.
Villanova ranks 201st in offensive rebounds, while Delaware ranks 31st in defensive rebounds.
Opponents have had an average turnover percentage of 22.5% when playing Villanova this season. Delaware is undefeated (1-0) when its TO% is 22.5% or higher.
