The Houston Cougars and Villanova Wildcats prepare to face off in a Saturday March Madness matchup.
The Best Bets for Saturday, March 26th
The No. 5 Houston Cougars and No. 2 Villanova Wildcats will face off in the Elite Eight on Saturday.
Houston showed no fear or hesitancy in their impressive upset over Arizona on Thursday. The Cougars have flown under the radar in the tournament but have been one of the most consistent teams we have seen take the court up to this point.
Villanova defeated Michigan on Thursday in a competitive eight-point victory. The Wildcats have not yet lost during the month of March and are in the midst of an eight-game winning streak.
This contest has the makings of another extremely enticing matchup between two talented teams!
Tip-off is scheduled for 6:09 P.M. EST on Saturday, March 26th, at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, TX.
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NCAAB – Houston Cougars vs. Villanova Wildcats Betting Trends
Houston Cougars:
- Houston is 25-12 ATS this season.
- The Cougars are 21-9 ATS when playing after a win.
- They are 9-1 ATS at neutral sites.
- Houston is 23-12 ATS as a favorite.
- The Cougars are 3-0 ATS so far during the tournament.
Villanova Wildcats:
- Villanova is 19-15-2 ATS this year.
- The Wildcats are 14-11-1 ATS following a victory.
- They are 7-3 ATS at neutral sites.
- Villanova is 1-3-1 ATS as an underdog.
- The Wildcats are 3-0 ATS so far during the tournament.
Betting Odds
Houston Cougars
The Cougars enter play on a roll. They have won six games in a row and are playing with a myriad of confidence. The main aspect of their play which has stood out has been the manner in which they have been able to win games.
Most other teams in the tournament have endured a number of nail-biting finishes. But that has not been the case for the Cougars.
Houston kicked off March Madness by taking care of UAB 82-68. There were plenty of NCAA basketball experts who projected UAB pulling off the upset in that matchup, but the Cougars would have none of it.
Then they beat a solid Illinois team 68-53. The Cougar defense was on point, while the offense did more than enough to earn the win.
And finally, Houston is fresh off of a great win over a highly-touted Arizona team. Although the Wildcats entered play as only narrow favorites, most people betting on March Madness were still taking Arizona with their picks. But the Cougars won in a game that really was not all that close.
Houston led at the half 34-28. They pulled away even further in the second half by out-scoring Arizona 38-32 en route to their 72-60 win.
Jamal Shead led the charge with 21 points and six assists. Kyler Edwards added 19 points and five rebounds.
Houston might be tasked with their first clutch-time finish on Saturday against a red-hot Villanova squad.
Villanova Wildcats
Villanova last dropped a game on February 22nd against UConn. The final score of that game was 71-69, and the Wildcats were rather devastated after the heartbreaking defeat. But it might have been the turning point in their season.
After a week’s layoff, Villanova played their first game following the UConn loss on March 1st when they won 76-74 against a good Providence team.
And they have not lost a game since.
Villanova has not defeated teams in as much of a convincing manner as Houston during March Madness, but they also have not had a lot of extremely close finishes.
They handily took care of Delaware to open the tournament by 20 points. Ohio State gave them a bit more trouble, but a couple of late runs led to a 71-61 victory over the Buckeyes.
But they played their most exciting contest yet on Thursday in their 63-55 win against Michigan. The Wildcats led by just three points at the half, and it seemed as if the Wolverines had a legitimate shot at upsetting the odds. But Villanova never lost focus and held on at the end.
Jermaine Samuels set the tone with 22 points on 8-13 shooting from the field. He added seven rebounds, two steals, and two blocks to cap off an all-around quality performance. Justin Moore added 15 points, four boards, and four assists.
The Wildcats are playing some of the best overall basketball in the tournament and will look to keep things going on Saturday.
Best Betting Odds to Bet Online
- BetUS: Houston -2.5
- MyBookie: Houston -2.5
- BetNow: Houston -2.5
- Bovada: Houston -2.5
- Betonline: Houston -2.5
This game is projected to be decided in the final minutes. Houston’s strong play as of late has them listed as the narrow favorite. However, Villanova is a team that cannot be slept on.
How To Bet On: Houston Cougars vs Villanova Wildcats NCAAB Betting lines
This game comes down to quantity vs. quality. Villanova has yet to lose during March, while Houston has won six games in a row, but each of their wins during March Madness have been very well-played.
The Cougars’ rebounding ability automatically provides them with an advantage. On the other hand, Villanova holds a slight advantage in terms of three-point shooting. Both teams are defensive-minded, which could lead to a significant number of missed shots and turnovers.
Houston is a favorite for a reason. In a tournament that has seen Cinderella stories and upsets galore, I like the favorite in this Saturday matchup.
OBS Betting Picks for Houston Cougars vs Villanova Wildcats NCAAB
Take the Houston Cougars on Saturday.
Bonus! Other Games Worth Placing a Bet on
All odds are courtesy of BetUS.
NCAAB
- Arkansas +4
- Duke -4
Pick: Duke -4
The other big March Madness Elite Eight game slated for Saturday is Arkansas vs. Duke. Both teams are playing well and have solid chances of emerging victorious. But rolling with Coach K and the Blue Devils is the correct choice.
