Villanova Wildcats vs Butler Bulldogs NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/1/25

Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Wildcats versus the Bulldogs? Tip off is at at 6:30 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on FS1. The game will be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Villanova come into this Big East conference matchup as the -2.5 favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 146 points.

VILLANOVA WILDCATS VS BUTLER BULLDOGS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Butler Bulldogs +2.5

This game will be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse at 6:30 ET on Wednesday, January 1st.

WHY BET THE BUTLER BULLDOGS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-69 in favor of the Bulldogs.
• Not only will Butler pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +2.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 146 points, and we like the under with a projected 145 points.

Is a Road Win Possible for Villanova?

Villanova fell to 8-5 on the season after an 86-79 road loss to Creighton on Saturday. Entering the game as +5 point underdogs, the Wildcats not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.

Villanova trailed 40-38 at halftime and couldn’t close the gap, as they were outscored 46-41 in the second half. The total points for the game reached 165, surpassing the O/U line of 142.5.

Villanova’s offense put up 79 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range, hitting 8 of 20 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 56.2%, with a 54.5% success rate on two-point shots.

Eric Dixon led the Wildcats with 27 points, connecting on 4 of 7 threes. Jamiya Neal was 6 of 7 from deep, finishing with 20 points and 6 assists, while Steven Ashworth also added 20 points and 11 assists, hitting 3 of 5 from beyond the arc.

Villanova’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 86 points on 55% shooting from the field. They allowed 31 made baskets on 56 attempts.

From beyond the arc, Villanova’s opponents shot 56%, hitting 14 of 25 threes. They also sent them to the line 14 times, where they made 10 free throws.

Does Butler Stand a Chance at Home?

Butler Bulldogs Recent Game/Games

Butler dropped to 7-6 on the season after a 78-74 loss to Connecticut on Saturday. The Bulldogs were +8.5 point underdogs going into the game but managed to keep it closer than expected.

After trailing 42-33 at halftime, Butler outscored the Huskies 41-36 in the second half. The total points for the game went over the 142.5 line, with a combined 152 points.

Butler put up 74 points in their last game, shooting 42.6% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 48.1%, and they hit 82.1% of their free throws, going 23-for-28 from the line.

Alex Karaban led the way with 21 points, hitting 4-of-9 from three-point range. Liam McNeeley and Patrick McCaffery each added 17 points, with McNeeley dishing out 7 assists. Andre Screen also contributed 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Butler’s defense gave up 78 points, with their opponent shooting 42% from the field, converting 23 of 54 attempts. Inside the arc, Butler allowed 18 of 39 shots to fall, a 46% success rate.

From three-point range, Butler’s defense held their opponent to 5 of 15 shooting, or 33%. However, they sent them to the free-throw line 28 times, where they hit 23, shooting 82%. Butler also allowed 7 offensive rebounds.