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A highly touted Sweet Sixteen matchup between the Villanova Wildcats and the Baylor Bears will be an instant classic on Saturday evening. The Wildcats reach the Sweet Sixteen for the third time since 2016. The last two times they reached this round, they went on to win the whole thing. Both teams won their second round games by wide margins and take their recent success into a heavyweight brawl. The game on Saturday evening will feature a ton of firepower and two different styles of play clashing to make for an interesting and unpredictable affair. It’s time to continue the NCAA odds series and make a Villanova-Baylor prediction and pick.
Here is how the sportsbooks set the odds for this game.
NCAA Odds: Villanova-Baylor Odds
Villanova Wildcats +6.5 (-110)
Baylor Bears -6.5 (-110)
Over 139 (-115)
Under 139 (-105)
Why Villanova Could Cover the Spread
The Villanova Wildcats have been great this season, especially of late. The Wildcats have gone 18-6 over their last twenty-four games and have two impressive wins in the tournament. The Villanova faithful can take a deep breath as they've seen their team adjust to the absence of senior guard Collin Gillespie to a season ending knee injury. Villanova's tournament resume is second to none. They have won two national championships in the last five years and have a legitimate chance to secure another one in 2021.
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They have serious momentum entering this game. The Cats had an impressive team performance in their second round win with four players scoring double digits. Villanova shot 61.5% from three against against North Texas, with eight players connecting from deep. Led by guard Justin Moore and forward Jermaine Samuels, the Wildcats connected on 55.4% of their field goals as well. They are shooting at a great clip recently and have seen a ton of success on the offensive end. They only average nine turnovers per game in 2021 and have a clear advantage in the front court in the upcoming game against Baylor.
Why Baylor Could Cover the Spread
The Baylor Bears have been one of the best teams in the nation all year long. They secured a number one seed in the tournament because of their consistent play on both ends of the floor. The Bears have been especially good on the offensive end, averaging 84.2 points per game thus far. This makes them the third-best scoring team in the land. They have secured double digit victories in both of their tournament games and look to be rolling at the right time. This team is deep and has the star power to beat anyone.
The Bears are led by star point guard Jared Butler. Butler had a great bounce back performance in the second round, going for sixteen points in the commanding victory. The guard centric Baylor Bears steamrolled the Wisconsin Badgers despite losing the rebounding battle by thirteen. With a lack of size, Baylor is able to play at a fast tempo and move the defense. They tire the other team by moving the ball at a fast rate. They averaged an impressive seventeen assists per game in 2021. The Bears have the talent to win the tournament this year and will need another solid performance from big man Matthew Mayer to compete with Villanova's front court prowess.
Final Villanova-Baylor Prediction & Pick
I love Villanova's track record and success of late. Once the calendar hits March, the Wildcats enter contender status so long as they receive a bid. They will play with tenacity on both ends and will almost certainly control the boards on Saturday. I don't see that being enough against a Baylor team that has dominated teams with a quick style of play all season long. The Bears recipe for success is more sustainable and I see the absence of Gillespie finally playing a factor against a guard centric Baylor team. Baylor has the edge on both ends and will put the Nova's season to rest as they advance to the Elite Eight.
FINAL PICK: Baylor -6.5 (-110)
