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Villanova vs Arizona State Odds, Lines and Spread

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in College Basketball

Updated Mar 3, 2021 · 11:51 AM PST

Jermaine Samuels shooting free throw
Villanova's Jermaine Samuels plays during an NCAA college basketball game against Georgetown, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
  • No. 18 Arizona State and No. 3 Villanova meet Thursday night in the Legends Classic championship game in Bubbleville at Uncasville, Conn.
  • All-American Remy Martin scored 20 points to lead Arizona State over Rhode Island 93-88 in the first round
  • Villanova rallied past Boston College 76-67 in the opening round behind Jeremiah Robinson-Earl’s 18 points

Arizona State and Villanova got their seasons started on a good note Wednesday and will now meet in an interesting Thanksgiving night showdown.

The 18th-ranked Sun Devils and third-ranked Wildcats will meet at 9:30 p.m. ET Thursday night in the Legend Classics championship game at Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort – aka Bubbleville – in Uncasville, Conn.

Villanova is favored to win the matchup of top 20 teams.

#3 Villanova vs #18 Arizona State Odds

Team Moneyline Spread Total
Villanova -240 -5.5 (-106) Over 153.5 (-110)
Arizona State +194 +5.5 (-114) Under 153.5 (-110)

Odds taken Nov. 25 at FanDuel.

Both teams won their first-round games as Arizona State held off Rhode Island 94-88 and Villanova rallied for a 76-67 victory over Boston College.

Martin Leads Arizona State

Arizona State senior guard Remy Martin lived up to his billing as a preseason All-American by scoring 20 points against Rhode Island. It was the 26th time in his career he reached that figure.

Freshman Marcus Bagley added 16 points while Taeshon Cherry, highly touted freshman Josh Christopher and Holland Woods added 11 each. Arizona State failed to cover the 6.5-point spread.

The game included 81 free throws, 55 personal fouls and two technical fouls.

Chris Osten’s three-point play with 2:59 remaining put the Sun Devils ahead for good at 89-86.

It was only fitting that Arizona State would start the season with a big offensive performance. The Sun Devils averaged 78.1 points a game in Bobby Hurley’s first three seasons as coach.

Robinson-Earl Rallies Villanova

Villanova forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half to rally the Wildcats from a nine-point deficit. He sat out much of the first half while in foul trouble.

Guard Collin Gillespie, also a preseason All-American, had 15 points. Justin Moore and Caleb Daniels added 14 apiece.

Picked to finish 14th in the ACC and 15.5-point underdogs, Boston College took a 58-49 lead with 13 minutes and appeared on its way to an upset. However, the Wildcats responded with an 11-1 run to move in front 60-59.

Villanova took the lead for good, 63-61, on a hook shot by Moore with just over six minutes to go.

Coach Jay Wright was concerned his team might show some rustiness after Villanova was forced to stop practicing for two weeks in September because of COVID-19 issues. His fears turned out to be justified.

Wildcats Injuries

Sitting out the tournament are two players expected to play key roles for Villanova in forward Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree and guard Bryan Antoine.

Crosby-Roundtree has a shin injury. Though he averaged just 1.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 2019-20, he had moved up the depth chart following the departures of forward Saddiq Bey and Jermaine Samuels.

Antoine has had a setback in his recovery from shoulder surgery performed in 2019. He was limited to 16 games last season and a 1.1 scoring average.

Scant History

The teams are meeting for the second time. The first came during the 1993-94 season when Arizona State notched a 73-62 victory.

Then coached by Bill Frieder, the Sun Devils did have to future NBA players on the roster in Stevin Smith and Mario Bennett. Coached by Steve Lappas, Villanova had three players go on to the NBA – Kerry Kittles, Jason Lawson and Alvin Williams.

It seems a safe bet that Martin, Christopher and Gillespie – at the very least – will be three of the players who suit up for Thursday night’s game that will play in the NBA next season.

First though, Villanova and Arizona State square off in Bubbleville in what should be a good ballgame to wrap up to the holiday.

Look for the Sun Devils to sneak under the number in a game likely to be played on tight terms.

Pick: Arizona State +5.5 (-114)

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