Our Villanova vs Baylor pick has the Bears as the favorite. The best point spread for Baylor is -7.5 (-110). As far as the underdog Wildcats are concerned, you’ll find them at +7.5 (-110). Villanova comes to this 2021 NCAAM Tournament Sweet 16 South Region contest by beating the #12 Winthrop Eagles 73-63 in Round One and then by taking down the #13 North Texas Mean Green 84-61. In Round One of the Big Dance, the Baylor Bears easily beat the #16 Hartford Hawks 79-55. In Round Two, the Bears met the #9 Wisconsin Badgers, beating them 76-63.
The Wildcats and Bears will meet on Saturday, March 27 at 5:15 pm ET. The game will be held at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Also, see our other South Region Sweet 16 pick for Saturday, as the #15 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles take on the #3 Arkansas Razorbacks at 7:25 pm ET. That game will be played at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN
Villanova vs Baylor Pick – Stats
Villanova will be challenged by a Baylor team that’s scoring 83.8 PPG and allowing opponents just 59.0. On the other hand, the Wildcats are averaging 75.8 PPG and giving up 62.0 PPG. The Bears are hitting 48.8% of their field goals, while the Cats are good on 45.4%. Additionally, Baylor is completing 41.8% of their three-pointers to the Wildcats 35.2%. On the other hand, Villanova is completing 76.5% of their free throws, while Baylor is hitting 69.7%. In other areas, Baylor’s a tad better on rebounds (36.5 – 34.0) and blocks (3.7 – 1.7). In addition, the Bears are making an impressive 9.1 SPG. The Wildcats are averaging 5.3 SPG.
Key Players
For ‘Nova, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Jermaine Samuels patrol the frontcourt. Robinson-Earl leads the team in point per game with 16.0 and rebounds with 8.3. He’s a 49.5% field-goal shooter. In the paint, Samuels is good for 11.9 PPG and 6.5 RPG. He’s shooting 47.5%. In the backcourt, Justin Moore is dishing off 3.0 APG while scoring 12.8 PPG and grabbing 4.1 RPG. Also, in the backcourt, Caleb Daniels is averaging 9.9 PPG.
Baylor comes to this game with loaded with scoring guards who can also set up plays. Jared Butler and Davion Mitchell are both fine shooters and excellent assist men. Butler is averaging 16.9 PPG and 4.8 APG, while Mitchell is recording 14.1 PPG and 5.4 APG. Mitchell’s completing 46.1% of his three-point and 52.1% of his field goal attempts. Guard MaCio Teague is hitting for 16.1 PPG and grabbing 4.1 RPG. Additionally, guards Adam Flagler and Matthew Mayer are both averaging over eight points per game. In the paint, forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua is averaging 6.4 PPG and 5.1 RPG.
Villanova vs Baylor Pick – Final Thoughts
Our Villanova vs Baylor pick likes the Bears at -7.5 in this one. Baylor should dominate the Wildcats on both ends of the court. Villanova will most likely keep it close in the first half, but Baylor’s depth should allow them to pull away in the second half of the game. Baylor Bears at -7.5 (-110).
#5 Villanova Wildcats vs #1 Baylor Bears
Baylor Bears at -7.5 (-110)
