Villanova at Marquette

This is a tough spot for the upstart Wildcats that will play their first true road game of the season. The Wildcats were more like Mildcats on the Big East highway a year ago where they logged just a 3-6 mark. Marquette features quick, experienced, athletic guards in the trio of Matthews, McNeal, and James, which now have inside presence of Lazar Hayward and his 17 points per game and 9.5 boards. The Golden Eagles one of the best at home with a 31-3 mark in their last 34 games with two of the losses coming by just two points. The trio of guards has produced a 1.4 to 1 assist-to-turnover ratio, and Hayward keeps the defense honest opening space on the perimeter. This is a tough place for first big road test, so I like Marquette in this one.