The No. 3 Michigan Wolverines (33-7) clash with the No. 1 Villanova Wildcats (35-4) in the National Championship at Alamodome. The game is scheduled to get underway at 9:20 p.m. ET on Monday, April 2, 2018.
Villanova is a 7-point favorite on the opening line, while the game’s Over/Under (O/U) opened at 145 points.
Michigan Wolverines vs. Villanova Wildcats Free Prediction
The Wolverines will be looking for a similar outcome after topping the No. 11 Loyola Chicago Ramblers in the Final Four, 69-57. The Wolverines forced 17 turnovers and held the Ramblers to an offensive rebounding percentage of 19.4 (below the 25.1 mark opponents have averaged against Michigan this season). Michigan was led by Moritz Wagner, who was the game’s leading scorer with 24 points on 10-for-16 shooting.
In the Final Four, the Wildcats were victorious over the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks, 95-79. Villanova was lights out from beyond the arc (18-40; 45.0 percent). Kansas, meanwhile, did a great job of making free throws (16-20; 80.0 percent). With 15 points and 13 rebounds, Omari Spellman had a good outing for Villanova.
The game should be a showdown of strength against strength as the productive offense of Villanova (first in the nation with an offensive efficiency of 124.0) takes on the stingy defense of Michigan (13th in the NCAA with a defensive efficiency of 95.4). Furthermore, the Wolverines, who rank 301st in free throw attempt (FTA) rate (0.203), will battle against the Wildcats, who rank 51st in opponents’ FTA rate (0.199).
Michigan holds records of 33-7 straight up (SU) and 25-13-1 against the spread (ATS). Wolverines games have finished under the projected point total 51.3 percent of the time.
Meanwhile, Villanova owns records of 35-4 SU and 27-12 ATS. Wildcats games have typically gone over the projected point total (65.8 percent).
Charles Matthews has averaged 14.8 points and 6.4 rebounds over the last five games for Michigan.
Michigan Wolverines vs. Villanova Wildcats Odds Pick
Pick: SU Winner – Villanova, ATS Winner – Michigan, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes:
Michigan ranks 13th in assists allowed per game (10.1) while Villanova ranks 162nd (13.5).
The Wolverines rank seventh in three pointers allowed per game (16.2) while the Wildcats rank 142nd (21.4).
Villanova ranks 131st in rebounds per game (35.9) while Michigan ranks 254th (33.5).
The Wildcats rank 48th in blocks allowed per game (2.7) while the Wolverines rank 107th (3.1).
Michigan is fourth in the nation with 4.2 steals allowed per game while Villanova is 13th with 4.8 steals allowed per game.
Bettings Trends:
The Wolverines’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 11.6, up from 11.0 for the season.
During their last five games, the Wildcats have scored an average of 84.8 points per game (2.0 below their season average) and allowed an average of 67.0 points per game (3.4 below their season average).
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