NCAAB

Villanova Wildcats vs Kansas Jayhawks

Villanova
Wildcats
34 - 4
Kansas
Jayhawks
31 - 7
March 31, 2018, 8:49 PM EDT
 | Alamodome

Game Preview

Villanova
Wildcats
34 - 4
Kansas
Jayhawks
31 - 7
March 31, 2018, 8:49 PM EDT
 | Alamodome
  • Although they claimed the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, the Kansas Jayhawks have found themselves overlooked quite often this season. Kansas has closed as an underdog on five occasions this year, going 4-1 SU and ATS in those contests – including an overtime victory against Duke in the Elite Eight. The Jayhawks will be dogs once again when they take on the Villanova Wildcats – the NCAA Tournament favorites – in the Final Four on Saturday.

    SHARK BITES
    • Kansas is 6-1 SU and ATS in its last 7 games as underdog.
    • Villanova is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games against Kansas.
    • The total has gone OVER in 14 of Villanova’s last 19 games with an average combined score of 157.1 ppg.

    Though we are used to seeing Kansas go deep into the tournament, this is not the same Bill Self team we are used to. Gone is the suffocating defense and juggernaut bigs down low – now the Jayhawks rely on a glut of shooters to space the floor and outscore opponents. Five different Kansas players are averaging at least 12 points per game this season while three of those players have taken at least 200 attempts from three-point range. The single biggest reason Kansas is winning during the tournament has been the play of oft-overlooked Malik Newman. The sophomore guard is averaging 25.7 points and 5.7 rebounds while hitting 48.1 percent of his threes since the second round.

    What is there to be said about Villanova that has not already been said. The Wildcats are the most complete, well-rounded team in the country – something they have proven by posting an average scoring margin of +15.8 points per game during the NCAA Tournament while limiting opponents to 64 ppg and a 36.7 field-goal percentage. All six of Villanova’s players to average at least 20 minutes per game are shooting 44.5 percent or better on the season while three (Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Omari Spellman) are shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc.

    Villanova Wildcats vs Kansas Jayhawks Matchup

    Team Betting Records & Power Rankings

    The Kansas Jayhawks currently sport a 31-7 record overall in NCAA basketball action, and have posted a corresponding betting slate of 20-17 ATS. The Villanova Wildcats are 34-4 and 25-12-1 ATS. Betting totals have seen the Jayhawks produce a 18-17-2 OVER/UNDER record on the season, while the Wildcats have gone 25-13 against the totals betting line.

    The Jayhawks sit at No. 155 in the current college hoops power poll here at OddsShark, while the Wildcats sit at No. 3 on the same chart.

    Statistical Matchup

    Scoring and defensive stats point to some betting edges in this matchup. The game features Kansas's No. 25-ranked scoring average of 81.45 PPG, against a Villanova defense rated No. 91 and allowing 70.16 PPG. The Jayhawks' FG% has averaged 49.35% to date this season, less than the Wildcats shooters have managed so far (49.91% per game).

    Recent Outings Betting Recap

    Villanova earned a 71-59 victory over Texas Tech on Sunday, getting 15 points from Jalen Brunson at TD Garden.

    Malik Newman poured in a team-high 32 points for Kansas on Sunday, as they defeated Duke 85-81 at CenturyLink Center.

Odds

Saturday, March 31 Sat Mar 31


Opening
Current

Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Opening
-4
-110
-230
o155.5
-110
+4
-110
+190
u155.5
-110
Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Current
-5
-107
-221
o155
-110
+5
-113
+191
u155
-110

Edge Finder

69.59
Total Score
75.42
43.55
Field Goal %
46.78
33.45
Three Point %
34.67
82.01
Free Throw %
71.99
31.71
Total Rebounds
35.94
69.59
Total Score
75.42
43.55
Field Goal %
46.78
82.01
Free Throw %
71.99
33.45
Three Point %
34.67
26.03
Three's Attempts
20.11
8.71
Three's Made
6.97
7.24
Offensive
9.81
24.47
Defensive
26.14
31.71
Total Rebounds
35.94
11.09
Assists
16.39
15.82
Fouls
16.58
10.09
Turnovers
12.33
5.71
Steals
8.81

Head To Head

VILLA
Stat Type KANSA
3-2
Record
2-3
4-1
ATS
1-4
2-3
O/U
2-3
69.20
Score
67.60
32.40
Half Time Score
32.00
39.65%
Field Goal Percentage
45.10%
32.00
Rebounds
30.80
41/114
3 Point Shots
28/80
10.40
Steals
6.60
VILLA
Stat Type KANSA
2-1
Record
1-2
2-1
ATS
1-2
0-3
O/U
0-3
61.33
Score
63.33
27.67
Half Time Score
29.33
36.81%
Field Goal Percentage
45.64%
31.67
Rebounds
32.00
16/60
3 Point Shots
16/52
9.67
Steals
7.33
Mar 26/16 (1 of 5)
VILLA
Stat Type KANSA
Away
Home
64
Score
59
+2
ATS
-2
145 o
O/U
145 u
32
Half Time Score
25
40.40%
Field Goal Percentage
46.00%
28
Rebounds
32
4/18
3 Point Shots
6/22
11
Steals
5
Nov 29/13 (2 of 5)
VILLA
Stat Type KANSA
Away
Home
63
Score
59
+4.5
ATS
-4.5
154.5 o
O/U
154.5 u
29
Half Time Score
22
34.60%
Field Goal Percentage
38.90%
43
Rebounds
34
9/25
3 Point Shots
2/11
8
Steals
9
Mar 28/08 (3 of 5)
VILLA
Stat Type KANSA
Away
Home
57
Score
72
+12.5
ATS
-12.5
145 o
O/U
145 u
22
Half Time Score
41
35.60%
Field Goal Percentage
53.30%
24
Rebounds
30
3/17
3 Point Shots
8/19
10
Steals
8
Jan 22/05 (4 of 5)
VILLA
Stat Type KANSA
Home
Away
83
Score
62
+2.5
ATS
-2.5
134.5 o
O/U
134.5 u
41
Half Time Score
34
50.90%
Field Goal Percentage
43.60%
24
Rebounds
23
12/19
3 Point Shots
7/17
15
Steals
5
Jan 2/04 (5 of 5)
VILLA
Stat Type KANSA
Away
Home
79
Score
86
+15
ATS
-15
142.5 o
O/U
142.5 u
38
Half Time Score
38
37.30%
Field Goal Percentage
45.10%
41
Rebounds
35
13/35
3 Point Shots
5/11
8
Steals
6

Team Records

VILLA
Record KANSA
34-4
All
31-7
12-1
Home
14-4
9-3
Away
7-3
13-0
Neutral Site
10-0
34-4
As Fav
26-6
0-0
As Dog
4-1
25-12-1
ATS
20-17
9-4
ATS Home
8-9
6-6
ATS Away
5-5
10-2-1
ATS Neutral
7-3
25-13
O/U
18-17-2
11-2
O/U Home
9-7-1
6-6
O/U Away
4-6
8-5
O/U Neutral
5-4-1
VILLA
Record KANSA
17-4
All
16-5
8-1
Home
7-2
6-3
Away
6-3
3-0
Neutral Site
3-0
17-4
As Fav
13-4
0-0
As Dog
3-1
12-9
ATS
10-11
7-2
ATS Home
2-7
3-6
ATS Away
5-4
0-0
ATS Neutral
0-0
15-6
O/U
11-9-1
8-1
O/U Home
5-4
5-4
O/U Away
4-5
0-0
O/U Neutral
0-0
VILLA
Record KANSA
9-1
All
9-1
1-0
Home
1-0
1-1
Away
1-1
7-0
Neutral Site
7-0
9-1
As Fav
6-1
0-0
As Dog
3-0
7-3
ATS
6-4
1-0
ATS Home
0-1
0-2
ATS Away
1-1
6-1
ATS Neutral
5-2
6-4
O/U
7-2-1
1-0
O/U Home
1-0
1-1
O/U Away
1-1
4-3
O/U Neutral
5-1-1

Injuries

Name Position Inj Desc
Name Position Inj Desc
Cam MartinFIs "?" Saturday vs Arkansas, Shoulder
Dajuan HarrisGHas returned, Ankle
Kyle Cuffe Jr.GIs out for season, Redshirt

Last 10 Games

Date Opp Score SU Line Total ATS FG% FT% 3PTM
Mar 25, 2018TEXTK71-59W-6146W/U33.3382.864
Mar 23, 2018W.VA90-78W-5.5152.50W/O50.0085.1913
Mar 17, 2018ALA81-58W-11149W/U39.6887.5017
Mar 15, 2018RADFD87-61W-22.5138.50W/O59.6278.5714
Mar 10, 2018PROV76-66W-13143.50L/U43.7578.579
Mar 9, 2018BUTLR87-68W-8.5150.50W/O47.5488.2414
Mar 8, 2018MARQ94-70W-11.5160.50W/O56.9076.4715
Mar 3, 2018GTOWN97-73W-19155W/O57.38100.0014
Feb 28, 2018SETON69-68W-7160.50L/U36.3681.258
Feb 24, 2018CREIG83-89L-7165L/O41.1078.5712
View Game Logs
Date Opp Score SU Line Total ATS FG% FT% 3PTM
Mar 25, 2018DUKE85-81W+3156.50W/O43.4880.0013
Mar 23, 2018CLEMS80-76W-5143.50L/O46.6763.6410
Mar 17, 2018SETON83-79W-4.5155L/O50.0069.239
Mar 15, 2018PENN76-60W-14146W/U44.2688.247
Mar 10, 2018W.VA81-70W+1.5148W/O56.3650.0015
Mar 9, 2018KANST83-67W-7.5138.50W/O48.3382.3511
Mar 8, 2018OKST82-68W-6150W/P56.1471.438
Mar 3, 2018OKST64-82L-3152.50L/U41.6763.647
Feb 26, 2018TEXAS80-70W-12141.50L/O60.3430.007
Feb 24, 2018TEXTK74-72W+2.5142.50W/O50.0068.7511
View Game Logs