A key college battle sees the visiting Villanova Wildcats travelling to La Salle Sunday to take on the Explorers.

The Explorers bring a 2-1 record (1-0 ATS) to this tilt against the 3-2 Wildcats, who are 2-2 ATS. OVER/UNDER bettors have witnessed La Salle go 0-0 so far and the Wildcats go 2-1.



View Villanova vs La Salle Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
The Explorers were listed as 3.5-point favorites at most sportsbooks tracked by Odds Shark earlier in the day. It opened first at Sportsbook, where the total was expected shortly.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Explorers - Wildcats odds would favor the Wildcats if the lines were set according to our power ranks. La Salle is rated No. 101 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Villanova is at No. 50. Mathematical models based on recent stats and predictive formulas point to a 74-70 win for the Explorers.



How They Match Up:
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and La Salle has the nation's No. 140-rated offensive output, at 70.3 PPG. The visiting Wildcats defense ranks No. 277 allowing on average 71.8 PPG. The Explorers FG% has averaged 42% so far, more than the Wildcats marksmen have achieved on the year, 40.4% per game.

Defensively, Villanova features the nation's No. 284-rated defense on the road, allowing 79 points per game. La Salle, meanwhile, comes in at No. 163 nationally in scoring at home.

Villanova lost its last outing, a 75-57 result against Columbia on November 20. They failed to cover in that game as a 10-point favorite. Villanova suffered a 75-57 loss against Columbia on Tuesday, getting 13 points from James Bell in a losing effort at Villanova Pavilion.

La Salle won its last outing, a 64-51 result against Hartford on November 20. Tyreek Duren scored 15 points leading the Explorers to a 64-51 victory over Hartford at Reich Family Pavilion on Tuesday.


Villanova Wildcats Trends:
When playing on Sunday are 4-6
After playing Columbia are 3-0
After a loss are 4-6

La Salle Explorers Trends:
When playing on Sunday are 2-8
Before playing Rider are 1-3
After playing Hartford are 2-1
After a win are 5-5

A few Wildcats at Explorers trends to consider:
Villanova is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against La Salle
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Villanova's last 7 games on the road
Villanova is 7-17 ATS in its last 24 games on the road
Villanova is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of La Salle's last 6 games when playing Villanova
La Salle is 18-5 SU in its last 23 games at home
La Salle is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Villanova
La Salle is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Villanova


Next up:
Villanova at Vanderbilt, Saturday, December 1
La Salle at Rider, Thursday, November 29