For the fifth time, Villanova and Michigan will face off on Tuesday night. This is the first matchup between the two, taking place in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan has won three of the four meetings, with the last one occurring in the 2022 Sweet 16. The Wolverines have begun the season 8-0 while the Wildcats are 7-1 in their first eight contests.
Michigan is a favorite in this matchup at -15.5, with the game’s over/under set at 150.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here is my best bet for tonight’s Villanova vs. Michigan matchup.
Villanova vs. Michigan (6:30 p.m. ET)
Although Michigan is No. 2 in the latest AP Poll, KenPom ranks the Wolverines first in their current rankings. Michigan has the No. 1 defensive rating, allowing 72 or fewer points in seven of eight games. But Michigan’s offense has been on a phenomenal run, scoring at least 101 points in three straight games.
UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg has been excellent this season for Michigan, totaling 15.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.3 steals per contest. Lendeborg is also shooting 59.7 percent from the field, 82.8 percent from the free throw line, and 39 percent from deep. Michigan has eight players averaging at least seven points and has an incredibly well-rounded roster. Roddy Gayle Jr. and Trey McKenney combine to make a good backcourt for the Wolverines.
Villanova has won seven consecutive games since losing to BYU 71-66 in their first game of the season. Since then, the Wildcats have yet to face another elite team. They are led by Bryce Lindsay, the JMU transfer who is scoring 18.1 points per game on 49.1 percent from three-point range. Lindsay is one of five Villanova players who average double-digit points. Villanova has the 54th-best defensive rating according to KenPom, which should bode well for the Wildcats against a top-tier offense. Until a team shows they can compete with Michigan, it is wise to take them to cover the 15.5-point spread.
