Oklahoma Sooners vs Villanova Wildcats Point Spread Picks

Oklahoma hasn't been home in a while as they come off a tournament in Florida. The Sooners head out on the road again and are 20-37 ATS away from home after a game where they made 50% or better of their 3-pointers. Villanova plays its first home game in almost three weeks. The Wildcats are anxious to break a four-game skid with two close ones to Michigan State (73-71) and Oregon (74-67). They get good news as freshman forward Cam Whitmore (thumb) is back at practice after missing seven weeks. Villanova is 40-23 ATS in December home games, plus 33-16 ATS at home after a game where they committed 8 or fewer turnovers. Play Villanova.

Oklahoma may feel confident after blowing out this Villanova team back in December, but don't read too much into that game. It was in Hawaii in a tournament and the road weary Wildcats simply had a bad game, shooting 4-of-32 from long range. This Villanova squad is loaded with offensive talent, with five players averaging 9.8 points or better. Villanova's offense was fourth in the Big East in scoring (77.9 points per game), first in free throws (78%) and second in three-pointers (.404%). Its shooting percentage (62.7) against Miami in the Sweet 16 ranked third-highest since the tournament expanded in 1985. But don't overlook this defense, which was number one in the Big East in points allowed (63.8 ppg). The Wildcats' 64-59 victory Saturday over Kansas was impressive, holding the Jayhawks to a season-low in points. The Wildcats are 34-15-2 ATS in non-conference games, plus 39-18-1 ATS against a team with a winning straight up record. Meanwhile Oklahoma is on a 9-20 spread run, including 3-7 ATS in NCAA Tournament games and 3-11 ATS versus an opponent with a winning straight-up record. The early money moved on the Wildcats -- and the early money will be right. Play Villanova.

A battle of unbeatens square off in Hawaii. The Oklahoma Sooners are 2-5 ATS in their last seven neutral site games. Villanova made 11 3-pointers in its final tuneup for the Hawaii trip against city rival Saint Joseph's its last time out, an 86-72 win and cover. The Villanova Wildcats have four double-figure scorers on the season led by last year's sixth man, Josh Hart (15.3), who also grabs 7.4 rebounds per game. Ryan Arcidiacono chips in 12.4 points, along with Kris Jenkins (12.3 points per game), and Jalen Brunson (11.1 points per game). Last season Villanova went 33-3 overall and 16-2 in the Big East. Daniel Ochefu (9.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks) is the team's primary interior threat. The Wildcats are on a 50-20-1 ATS run, 22-8-1 ATS in their last 31 non-conference games. The Wildcats boast the best defense in the Big East, too. They are holding opponents to 56 points per game, 35 percent shooting from the field, and 27 percent from three-point range, all tops in the conference. Play Villanova.