Delaware vs Villanova Odds, Lines and Spread

• Delaware takes on Villanova in NCAA Tournament First Round action on Friday, March 18th
• The Wildcats are coming off their 5th Big East Championship since 2015
• See the Delaware vs Villanova odds, analysis and best bets below

Jay Wright has his Villanova Wildcats (26-7, 16-5-2 ATS) primed for another NCAA title run as they get set for a First Round matchup with the the Delaware Blue Hens(22-12, 15-18 ATS) in South Region action on Friday, March 18th.

This game will be played at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh and broadcast live by CBS at 2:45 pm ET. The Wildcats have been crowned champions in two of the last five tournaments held and as a number two seed, they are looking to go all the way to the final once again.

Villanova has been made a 15.5-point favorite over Delaware in this #2 vs #15 matchup. Let’s take a peek at all the odds and totals while giving you our best bet prediction for this one.

Delaware vs Villanova Odds

Odds as of March 16th at Barstool Sportsbook. Editor’s note: the game total has been bet up from 134 to 135.5 as of 11:13 am ET, March 18. 

Delaware have only lost one game all year by more than 15 points and that was their season opener when they went down 93-71 to Davidson. Do they have enough to bust up some March Madness brackets against the heavily favored Wildcats? Let’s investigate.

Delaware Blue Hens Betting Trends

After ending the regular season on a three game losing streak, (if you include the resumption of a game against Towson on February 28th) the Blue Hens ran the table to capture the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament title. They avenged two of those late season losses defeating both Towson and UNC Wilmington to win the tournament.

Delaware is back in The Big Dance for the first time since 2014! 🕺

The Blue Hens punched their ticket after winning the CAA championship! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/YT4WYtPKU4

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 9, 2022

Having finished just 4th in their conference, winning the tourney was the only way the Mud Hens were going to get a berth in the big dance, their first appearance since 2014. Delaware managed to keep their opponents to under 60 points in each of their CAA tournament wins.

The total in this matchup against a Villanova squad that currently sits ninth in the NCAA Tournament title odds, sits at 134. The Mud Hens last five games have all fallen under that total.

They are led by Jameer Nelson Jr., son of former NBA player Jameer Nelson. The guard averages 13.7 points per game on 45.4% shooting and will need to have a a hot hand early for Delaware to stand any chance at an upset.

.@jameernelson got emotional after his son, Jameer Nelson Jr., and @DelawareMBB punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament ❤️ #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/fpNqdycqby

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 9, 2022

Villanova Wildcats Betting Analysis

Villanova has depended on senior guard Collin Gillespie all season and he’s proven that in the critical moments, he wants the ball. Gillespie features in the Wooden Award odds and is on the ballot this season; he sank consecutive three pointers in the final minutes to deliver Villanova another Big East title in the tournament final, defeating Creighton, 54-48.

Collin Gillespie in a 54-48 win vs. Creighton : 17 points on 5-14 shooting, 3-8 from 3, 4-4 from the FT line, 7 rebounds, 5 assists & 2 steals in 36 minutes (Outscored Creighton 8-3 by himself in the final 2:49 of the game to help Villanova win the Big East Championship) pic.twitter.com/Tzv6uUxgYA

— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) March 13, 2022

The Wildcats overall come into this one on a hot streak having won 10 of their last 11. According to KenPom, they rank 8th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency. They’re 15-12-1 ATS as a favorite this year, but an incredible 14-3 ATS in their last 17 NCAA tournament games as a favorite, covering 82.4% of the time in those contests.

They have the 24th rated defense in Division I with regards to opposition points per game, holding teams to just 63.1 ppg this year. They held Creighton to just 48 points in the Big East tournament final and the under is 6-0 in their last six neutral site games as a favorite.

Delaware vs Villanova Prediction

Is their potential for a Mud Hens upset here? It’s highly unlikely. Jay Wright is one of the best coaches in college ball and will make sure his team is not looking past Delaware, although their aspirations are to become crowned champions once again.

Matchup is set!

South Region
2 Villanova vs. 15 Delaware #LetsMarchNova #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/pw4jk3EAiw

— Villanova MBB (@NovaMBB) March 13, 2022

Villanova sit at +550 in the odds to reach the Final Four odds and anything less than an appearance in the second week of the tournament will be a huge disappointment for Wright’s squad.

The more difficult question is whether the Mud Hens can keep the score somewhat close and how many points will be scored? The Mud Hens haven’t played many teams that can close out on defense like Villanova and have made a habit of playing low scoring games themselves with the under going 4-0 in their last four overall as well as last four Friday games.

The trends between both teams point to a fairly low scoring affair, so take under 134 points in this first round matchup between Delaware and Villanova on Friday.

Pick: Under 134 (-110)

Other March Madness Content

First Round Game Previews (Friday)

1. Loyola Chicago vs Ohio State Odds and Picks (12:15 pm ET)
2. Jacksonville State vs Auburn Picks and Odds (12:40 pm ET)
3. Montana State vs Texas Tech Odds, Lines and Spread (1:45 pm ET)
4. Yale vs Purdue Picks and Odds (2:00 pm ET)
5. Miami vs USC Odds and Picks (3:10pm ET)
6. Notre Dame vs Alabama Picks and Odds (4:15 pm ET)
7. Virginia Tech vs Texas Odds, Lines and Spread (4:30 pm ET)
8. Chattanooga vs Illinois Odds and Picks (6:30 pm ET)
9. Cal State Fullerton vs Duke Picks and Odds (7:10 pm ET)
10. Iowa State vs LSU Odds, Lines and Spread (7:20 pm ET)
11. Wright State vs Arizona Prediction (7:27 pm ET)
12. UAB vs Houston Picks and Odds (9:20pm ET)
13. Davidson vs Michigan State Odds, Lines and Spread (9:40 pm ET)
14. Colgate vs Wisconsin Odds and Picks (9:50 pm ET)
15. TCU vs Seton Hall Picks and Odds (9:57 PM ET)

First Round Game Previews (Thursday)

1. Michigan vs Colorado State Odds and Picks (12:15 pm ET)
2. Providence vs South Dakota State Picks and Odds (12:40 pm ET)
3. Memphis vs Boise State Odds, Lines and Spread (1:45 pm ET)
4. Norfolk State vs Baylor Odds and Picks (2:00 pm ET)
5. Longwood vs Tennessee Picks and Odds (2:45 pm ET)
6. Richmond vs Iowa Odds, Lines, and Spread (3:10 pm ET)
7. Gonzaga vs Georgia State Odds (4:15 pm ET)
8. Marquette vs UNC Picks and Odds (4:30 pm ET)
9. New Mexico State vs UConn Odds, Lines, and Spread (6:50 pm ET)
10. Saint Peter’s vs Kentucky Odds and Picks (7:10 pm ET)
11. Indiana vs Saint Mary’s Picks and Odds (7:20 pm ET)
12. Creighton vs San Diego State Odds, Lines, and Spread (7:27 pm ET)
13. Vermont vs Arkansas Odds and Picks (9:20 pm ET)
14. San Francisco vs Murray State Picks and Odds (9:40 pm ET)
15. Akron vs UCLA Odds, Lines, and Spread (9:50 pm ET)
16. Texas Southern vs Kansas Odds and Picks (9:57 pm ET)

Regional Previews

1. East Region Odds — Baylor Earns Top Seed, Kentucky Favored
2. Midwest Region Odds See Kansas Favored Over Auburn, Iowa and Wisconsin
3. South Region Odds: Arizona +110 Favorites, Tennessee & Houston Sleepers
4. West Regional Odds: Gonzaga Odds-On Favorite to Reach Final Four

General

• SBD’s Expert Brackets and March Madness Picks 2022
• March Madness Odds Favor Gonzaga at +350 After Selection Sunday
• March Madness Odds for All First Round Games
• Printable 2022 March Madness Bracket – Make Your Picks for the NCAA Tournament