Baylor vs. Villanova 2021 March Madness Odds and Preview — Sweet 16

By Carlos Chacon • March 23, 2021

The Villanova Wildcats and Baylor Bears share the court on Saturday for their Sweet 16 game. The Wildcats want to keep the momentum going after taking down Winthrop and North Texas to secure a spot in the third leg of the tournament. Meanwhile, the Baylor Bears are hungry for victory after winning their first two rounds against Hartford and Wisconsin.

All that said, the NitroBetting news team looks over the upcoming Baylor vs. Villanova game, one of the eight Sweet 16 games this weekend. We present a collection of essential information that will help you lock in the best picks. This article covers the essentials, such as NCAAB betting odds, a closer look at the competing teams, and our very own expert betting predictions.

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Baylor vs. Villanova Game Information

Let’s work, #NovaNation?#LetsMarchNova | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/c08EEvk5ST
— Villanova MBB (@NovaMBB) March 23, 2021

When: Saturday, March 27, 2021, 5:15 PM ET
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
TV: CBS
Radio: CBS Sports Radio
Live Stream: March Madness Live
March Madness Betting Odds: Baylor -270 / -6.5 (-112) / Under 140.5 (-109)

Why Bet on the Baylor Bears?

Baylor stayed on top of its game leading to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Big 12 regular-season title. The only surprise that came the Bears’ way was an in-form Oklahoma State team, beating Baylor in the Big 12 tourney semifinals, 74-83.

Nonetheless, the Bears kept composed and started their postseason campaign strong, steamrolling their opponents in the first round with a 79-55 ending score and sealing a Sweet 16 spot after taking down Wisconsin 76-63.

The Bears are a threat beyond the arc, shooting over 41.4 percent. This makes them the no. 1 3-point shooting team in college basketball, and we can expect them to capitalize on their outside sniping.

In their previous game in the second round against Wisconsin, five different Bears hit 3-point shots. Moreover, Baylor ranked third in adjusted offensive efficiency, showing how much of a threat the Bears are from almost any spot.

Why Bet on the Villanova Wildcats?

Villanova had to go through a lengthy three-week pause in January due to the pandemic, and this took a toll on the team’s overall form. The lineup also thinned out as key players Collin Gillespie and Justin Moore suffered long-term injuries.

Since then, the Wildcats had to endure instability until the NCAA Tournament. These are some of the questions that come to mind when talking about the upcoming game.

Nevertheless, the Wildcats remained composed while Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Jermaine Samuels, and Justin Moore picked up the slack. Robinson-Earl took charge and led the team with 18 points, while Moore recorded 15 points each.

The Wildcats still have some firepower from the 3-point range with the help of Caleb Daniels, Cole Swider, both sooting above 38 percent. If Jaw Wright can come up with more ways to secure open looks, the Wildcats can make up for their poor defense with some more offense.

Baylor vs. Villanova Betting Trends

Baylor is 2-3 against the spread in its last 5 games.
Baylor scored at least 70 points and above in their last 10 games.
The totals have gone over in 8 of Baylor’s last 10 games.
Villanova is 6-4 in its last 10 games.
Villanova is 6-4 against the spread in its last 10 games.
The totals have gone under 3 times in Villanova’s last 5 games.

Baylor vs. Villanova Expert Betting Prediction

Despite No. 1 seed Baylor facing difficulties in 2021, the Bears were able to complete strong wins against No. 16 seed Hartford and No. 9 seed Wisconsin to be present at the Sweet 16. Since they face a tough opponent in Wildcats, they have to step up their game on both ends of the court to make a statement in this game.

Villanova played well through the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament and has displayed quality shooting beyond the 3-point line. On paper, the Bears might have the edge here, but it’s not easy to overlook a Villanova team that’s in form. The latter can threaten to cover the spread and even pull off a surprise win if Baylor succumbs to the pressure.

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*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.