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Houston Cougars vs. Villanova Wildcats: Elite Eight odds, final score predictions from ESPN, KenPom

Stephen Samraby:Steve Samra03/26/22

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C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

The No. 5 seed Houston Cougars (32-5) take on the No. 2 seed Villanova Wildcats (29-7) in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday at 6:09 p.m. ET. Here’s how to watch, odds, ESPN BPI predictions and KenPom game predictions as well for both teams ahead of Saturday’s Elite Eight showdown.

How to watch Houston vs. Villanova

Time: 6:09 PM ET

Channel: TBS

Location: AT&T Center — San Antonio, Texas

Odds

Houston is a 1.5-point favorite over Villanova on Saturday, according to Vegas Insider.

Money line: Houston -147, Villanova +123

Spread: Houston -2.5, -111, Villanova +2.5, –110

Total: Over/Under 127.5, -110

Check out the rest of Vegas’ odds for Saturday’s slate here.

ESPN BPI Predictions 

Matchup quality: 93.6%

Win probability: Houston65.1%

Predicted point differential: 3.5

The College Basketball Power Index (BPI) is a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of performance going forward. BPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Strength of Record (SOR) is a measure of team accomplishment based on how difficult a team’s W-L record is to achieve. 

Game predictions account for opponent strength, pace of play, site, travel distance, day’s rest and altitude, and are used to simulate the season 10,000 times to produce season projections. Numbers update daily,’ per ESPN.

For the rest of ESPN’s BPI predictions, click here.

KenPom Predictions

Score prediction: Houston 65, Villanova 63

Win probability: Houston, 57%

Check out the rest of KenPom’s predictions for Houston vs. Villanova and the entirety of college basketball here.

More on Houston vs. Villanova

Both Houston and Villanova are hoping their runs in the NCAA Tournament continue on Saturday. Thus far, both teams have been wildly impressive throughout.

First, Houston survived an upset-attempt at the hands of UAB. Then, the Cougars took care of business against one of the best the Big Ten has to offer in Illinois. Finally, Houston busted brackets all over the country, sending top-seeded Arizona home with a loss in the Sweet 16.

On the other hand, Villanova hasn’t been threatened too bad throughout the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats pulled away from 15-seed Delaware, defeating their opponents 80-60 to warm up. Then, Ohio State got hot early, but Villanova was able to defeat the Buckeyes by 10. Finally, the Wildcats continued their attack on the Big Ten, defeating the upstart Michigan Wolverines on Thursday in the Sweet 16.

Now, one game separates both Houston and Villanova from a date with the Final Four. It’ll be a hotly-contested showdown at the AT&T Center in San Antonio on Saturday.