The Villanova Wildcats (1-0) will play the second game of a three-game homestand when they host the Columbia Lions (1-0) on Wednesday night. Villanova got off to a fast start with a 75-63 win over Lafayette on Monday, but it did not cover the spread as an 18-point underdog. Columbia is going on the road for the second game in a row after beating Loyola-Maryland on Monday. This is the first meeting between these teams since 2017, when Villanova notched a 75-60 win.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Finneran Pavilion on CBS Sports Network. Villanova is favored by 17 points in the latest Villanova vs. Columbia odds, while the over/under is 144.5 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Columbia vs. Villanova picks, you'll want to see the NCAA Basketball predictions from the model at SportsLine.
The model simulates every Division 1 college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters the 2024-25 season on a 153-110 betting roll (+1891) on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to 2023. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps has seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on Columbia vs. Villanova. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college basketball betting lines for the game:
- Villanova vs. Columbia spread: Villanova -17
- Villanova vs. Columbia over/under: 144.5 points
- Villanova vs. Columbia money line: Villanova -2083, Columbia +1083
- Villanova vs. Columbia picks: See picks here
- Villanova vs. Columbia streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why Villanova can cover
Villanova is getting set for its second home game in a row after beating Lafayette by 12 points on Monday. The Wildcats only led by one point at halftime, but they pulled away with a 45-34 advantage in the second half. Senior guard Wooga Poplar, who transferred from Miami (FL), had 20 points and 10 rebounds in his debut.
Poplar averaged 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for the Hurricanes last season, so he is a huge addition to Villanova's lineup. Senior forward Enoch Boakye also posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while senior forward Eric Dixon served a one-game suspension. Dixon averaged 16.6 points and 6.5 rebounds last season, so his return on Wednesday will provide a major boost. See which team to pick here.
Why Columbia can cover
Columbia has already picked up one road win this week, beating Loyola-Maryland by three points on Monday. The Lions trailed by six points at halftime, but they used a second-half surge to force overtime and win the game. Senior guard Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa had 24 points, eight rebounds and three assists after averaging nearly 15 points for the Lions last season.
He also led the team in assists (2.7) and steals (1.6) while knocking down 57 3-pointers. Junior guard Kenny Noland had a big game as well, scoring a career-high 19 points while dishing out five assists. Columbia has covered the spread in five straight games against Villanova, and the Wildcats have failed to cover in six straight games overall. See which team to pick here.
How to make Villanova vs. Columbia picks
The model has simulated Columbia vs. Villanova 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Over, and it's also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 60% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Villanova vs. Columbia, and which side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Columbia vs. Villanova spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is on a 153-110 roll on top-rated college basketball picks, and find out.
