NCAA Basketball Bracket 2010 Predictions: Villanova Wildcats

After spending the majority of the season as one of the elite favorites to make the Final Four, the Villanova Wildcats stumbled badly down the stretch with 5 straight up losses in their last 7 games to damage their credibility in NCAA basketball bracket 2010 predictions and enter the big dance with odds of 20-1. What made matters even worse in the eyes of many sports handicappers, was the fact that Villanova failed to cover the spread in 8 out of their last 11 games driving their value down heading into March madness odds.

Villanova will put on their dance shoes with a mark of 24-7 straight up and 18-12 against the spread as they were one of the biggest money makers in college basketball odds before their collapse late in the season as the increased exposure to the late coming band wagon jumpers decimated their value. The Wildcats were 7-5 against the spread away from home and went OVER the total in 18 out of their 30 games including an away record of 8 OVERS in 11 games.

Villanova has one of the most dangerous offensive teams in college basketball odds which should keep them in any game that they play. It should also make them a dangerous threat as longshots at 20-1. Villanova put up 82.5 points per game which was third best in the nation but it was their defense that hampered the Wildcats down the stretch. Villanova allowed 72.9 points per game which was in the bottom third of the national rankings. Guard Scottie Reynolds is the spark plug of the offensive attack as he led the Wildcats in scoring with 18.5 points per game. Fellow guard Corey Fisher averaged 13.7 points per game and led Villanova in assists.

Villanova will play Robert Morris in their first round match-up on Thursday, March 18th at 12:30pm EST in a game that can be seen on CBS with the Wildcats 18 point favorites. In their last game Corey Stokes dropped 22 points for Villanova in their 80-76 loss to Marquette in the Big East tournament quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. Marquette cashed as 5-point underdogs in college basketball odds while the teams played OVER the 140-point total listed at online sportsbooks. Vegas odds have the Villanova Wildcats 12-1 in 2010 NCAA men's basketball tournament predictions.