Oklahoma vs Villanova Basketball Prediction, Odds & Picks

The new era of Villanova basketball has gotten off to a tough start, and the hits could keep coming today against a tough Oklahoma team at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Wildcats enter this matchup with just two wins in the first seven games under new head coach Kyle Neptune, and they have dropped four straight games since an ugly win over Delaware State almost three weeks ago.

It’s still early enough in the season that Nova could right the ship and still go dancing in March, but the margin for error will decrease with every loss. There are four non-conference games before they start Big East play, and they need to win them all, starting with today’s matchup against the Sooners.

That won’t be an easy feat, with OU on a six-game win streak since losing to Sam Houston State by one to open the season. The last three wins have come against power conference opposition, and they will be looking to add another today with games against future SEC counterparts Arkansas and Florida still to come this month.

Will the Wildcats end their skid this afternoon? Or will the Sooners make it seven straight wins? Keep reading for our Oklahoma vs Villanova prediction, as well as our betting picks for the matchup.

Oklahoma Sooners vs Villanova Wildcats Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Oklahoma Sooners (6-1) vs Villanova Wildcats (2-5)
• Venue & Location: Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
• Date: Saturday, December 3, 2022
• Game Time: 12:30 pm ET
• How to Watch Oklahoma vs Villanova: CBS

Oklahoma vs Villanova Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline as of Saturday, December 3, 2022, at 7:45 am ET. This article may also include odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites.

Spread

• Oklahoma +2.5 (-110)
• Villanova -2.5 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 125.5 (-110)
• Under 125.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Oklahoma +120
• Villanova -144

Will OU’s Defense Stifle the Struggling Wildcats?

With senior leader Justin Moore out while still recovering from the torn Achilles he suffered against Houston in last season’s Elite Eight and five-star freshman Cam Whitmore yet to debut due to a thumb injury suffered in October, Villanova is missing two important pieces.

Still, it is a strange sight to see the Wildcats having the struggles that they are having on both ends of the court, even with Neptune, not Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright, at the helm now.

This will be their first game since an 0-3 showing at the Phil Knight Invitational, which saw them fall to Iowa State, Portland, and Oregon.

Looking at their point totals in their four-game losing streak–71 (vs Michigan State), 79 (in OT vs Iowa State), 71 (vs Portland), and 67 (vs Oregon) –the surface numbers aren’t necessarily horrible.

But things are bad, bad, bad on that end for the Wildcats at present.

Veterans Eric Dixon (17.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG) and Caleb Daniels (17.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.1 APG) are shouldering the load, but there’s not enough coming from elsewhere. And a program renowned for perimeter proficiency is shooting only

Recent Shooting Percentages for Villanova

• Michigan State: 24 of 53 FG (45.3%), 8 of 29 3PT (27.6%)
• Iowa State: 23 of 57 FG (40.4%), 13 of 36 3PT (36.1%)
• Portland: 23 of 69 FG (33.3%), 9 of 41 3PT (22.0%)
• Oregon: 23 of 57 (40.4%), 10 of 31 3PT (32.3%)

Combined, Dixon and Daniels are shooting 36.8 percent (28 of 76) from three, which is respectable. But the rest of the team is shooting just 27.8 percent (32 of 115) from outside. Take away freshman Blake Hausen (8 of 17), and those numbers drop to 24.5 percent (24 of 98). Players not named Dixon and Daniels are shooting just 39 percent from the field overall.

Dixon and Daniels account for 52.1 percent of Villanova’s made field goals, 46.7 percent of their made threes, and 49.7 percent of their points.

This could all spell big trouble against an Oklahoma team that has not allowed more than 64 points in a game this season and recently won the ESPN Events Invitational in Orlando with wins over Nebraska, Seton Hall, and Ole Miss.

Notable Defensive Numbers for Oklahoma

• Points Allowed Per Game: 56.9
• Opponent FG%: 40.2% (153 of 386)
• Opponent 3PT%: 25.6% (30 of 117)

Offensively, Nevada transfer Grant Sherfield (15.6 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 5.0 APG) is the focal point for a team that averages just 65.7 PPG.

The Groves brothers–Tanner, who averages 10.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 1.4 BPG, and Jordan, who averages 8.6 PPG and is shooting 40.9 percent from three–are also key, along with Jalen Hill (8.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG).

If Villanova can stop Sherfield, that will go a long way, but there’s a bit of a troublesome information there.

Oklahoma doesn’t shoot a lot of threes, but Sherfield is shooting a career-best 45.2 percent from three, and opponents are shooting 37.9 percent from three (and 45.5 percent from the field overall) against Villanova.

For a bit of context, opponents shot just 30.8 percent from three and 40.8 percent from the field against last season’s Final Four team. So, the offensive end isn’t the only one where things are not going so well.

Oklahoma vs Villanova Prediction and Picks

Oklahoma vs Villanova Prediction: Oklahoma to win

Oklahoma vs Villanova Picks: Villanova team total under (Best Value: under 64.5 @ -120 at Bovada Sportsbook) & Oklahoma ML (Best Value: +120 at BetOnline & Bovada Sportsbook)

This is certainly a winnable game for Villanova, but it’s hard to have any faith that they will take advantage of the opportunity.

Oklahoma presents a tough, tough matchup for a team struggling for confidence and production offensively beyond Dixon and Daniels.

The Sooners may not score a lot of points themselves, but when you aren’t allowing many, even 60-65 points might be enough to leave the Wells Fargo Center with a win this afternoon.

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