Ohio State vs Villanova: Betting Odds, Picks, and Predictions (3/20/22)

Ohio State vs Villanova Betting Odds

Both Ohio State and Villanova run electric offenses with high-level shot-makers. Additionally, both run their offense at a very slow pace.

Both teams are going to feel very comfortable playing against the opponent.

But Jay Wright and the Wildcats have been here before. Chris Holtmann’s Buckeyes have never been past the second round.

So, can that change this year? Or can the Buckeyes at least keep it inside the spread?

Ohio State Buckeyes Odds

Yes, Ohio State held Loyola-Chicago to just 41 points.

No, that does not mean the Buckeye defense is good again.

Loyola-Chicago laid an egg. It missed tons of layups, open shots, and 3-pointers to basically hold themselves underneath 50 points. It was brutal to watch.

Holtmann’s defense is still poor. And something that Villanova will likely take advantage of.

However, Ohio State will have a big advantage on the interior. The Buckeyes shot over 60% from inside the arc against Loyola, and the Wildcats run a small-ball lineup that will be easy for a frontline of EJ Liddell, Joey Brunk, and Kyle Young to take advantage of.

Malaki Branham vs Collin Gillespie will be a very intriguing matchup. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year was an electric shot-maker who showed promise on defense. But it’ll be very difficult to stay with the super-senior point god.

Villanova Wildcats Odds

Villanova might be undersized, but the interior defense is actually rather good. The Wildcats throw bodies at opposing big men and contain them. The metrics reflect that, especially against the pick-and-roll, in post-up situations, and at the rim.

Offensively, I’m expecting Villanova to roll in this one. The Buckeyes fell out of the top-100 in defensive efficiency this season and outside the top-330 in both defensive turnover rate and defensive steal rate.

Liddell and co. can protect the interior, but Villanova won’t play on the interior. The Wildcats will pass around the perimeter and find an open jump shot.

Against Ohio State, those shots likely go in.

Ohio State vs Villanova Prediction and Pick

My pick: Ohio State +5.5 (-110 at BetMGM)

But the Buckeyes have enough advantages in this game to keep the final score close.

I also think this will be more of a low-possession grinder. Both these teams have electric shot-makers, but I am not sure how Villanova gets past the number with so few opportunities.

I do expect Villanova to win this game, but I’m predicting the final score closer to 66-62.