Maryland vs Villanova | Predictions

NCAA Basketball Free Pick – Saturday, January 15, 2011

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Maryland Terrapins vs Villanova Wildcats
Saturday, January 15, 2011  at 1:00 PM EST on CBS

Last meeting: Villanova won at Maryland last season 95-86

Maryland is in a large group of teams competing for the second best team in the ACC after Duke – who they put a scare into last week.  Jordan Williams is a big body who keeps getting better.  He is averaging 17 points and 12 boards a games and he will make the Wildcats bigs earn their numbers.  The problem is he doesn’t have much help.  Only one other player averages in double figures and that is guard Cliff Tucker.  With his athleticism he can really fill a stat sheet but he struggles with consistency – against Penn State he scored 0 points in 29 minutes.  Maryland wants to play at a slower pace where they can throw the ball to Williams every time down the floor.  Villanova is just the opposite, they want to run as much as possible and are tough to slow down.  This is a tough matchup for the Terps.

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Nobody is talking much about Villanova but they still have just the one loss.  Maryland is their last non-conference opponent and this is a definite look head game as they have visits to Connecticut and Syracuse next week.  With Scottie Reynolds gone this is a much more balanced team.  The new leading scorer is Corey Stokes, who is finally living up to his potential.  He is so strong with the ball and has been lights out this year shooting 47% on threes and 94% from the charity stripe.  He and backcourt mate Corey Stokes are as good as any guard tandem in the country…period!  Upfront Antonio Pena and Mouphatou Yarou are effective inside scorers and dogged rebounders.  They do most of the dirty work and Yarou vs Williams will be a fun battle to watch.  Lucky for Yarou the Wildcats do not rely on him to win, but when he is good this team is very tough to beat.

The current line on this one is Villanova -5.5.  I will be comfortably backing the Wildcats in this one.

Prediction: This is s bigger game for the Terps than the Wildcats.  A win on the road would hugely pad their tournament while Nova is likely a lock already.  Still Nova is the better team and hasn’t lost at home all season (5-2-1 ATS).  Getting away from the Big East for a game might actually be a pleasant break.

Check out the latest College Basketball Odds here.

Score:  Villanova 83 – Maryland 73

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Maryland Terrapins Betting Trends:

• Terrapins are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
• Terrapins are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
• Terrapins are 34-16-1 ATS in their last 51 road games.

Villanova Wildcats Betting Trends:

• Wildcats are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a S.U. win.
• Wildcats are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
• Wildcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
• Wildcats are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 vs. Atlantic Coast.

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