Ohio State vs. Villanova: NCAA Tournament odds, final score predictions from ESPN, KenPom

A trip to the Sweet 16 is on the line as No. 7 seed Ohio State (20-11) and the No. 2-seeded Villanova Wildcats (27-7) battle in the NCAA Tournament’s second round on Sunday at 2:40 p.m. ET. Here’s how to watch, Vegas odds, ESPN BPI predictions and KenPom game predictions as well for both teams ahead of huge Sunday’s Round of 32 clash. 

How to watch Ohio State vs. Villanova

Time: 2:40 p.m. ET/1:40 p.m. CT

Channel: CBS

Location: Pittsburgh, PA 

Odds

Money line: Villanova -222, Ohio State +181.

Spread: Villanova -5, -114. Ohio State +5, -109.

Total: Over/Under 132.5, -110.

Check out the rest of Vegas’ odds ahead of Sunday’s NCAA Tournament slate.

ESPN BPI predictions 

Matchup quality: 85.6%

Win probability: Villanova, 75.1%

Predicted point differential: 6.3

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: Villanova 70, Ohio State 66. 

Win probability: Villanova, 66%. 

Check out the rest of KenPom’s predictions for Ohio State vs. Villanova, and the rest of college basketball here.

Ohio State vs. Villanova Preview

The Wildcats are 9-1 in their last 10 games and are led by Collin Gillespie‘s 15.9 points per game on a 42.3 percent 3-point clip. The senior also averages three made treys a game, and Villanova”s success is predicated on his ability to score.

If Gillespie isn’t going, it’s Justin Moore‘s job to step up in his place. The junior guard is averaging 15.2 points and five rebounds per game this season but has seen that average cut down to 10.2 points per game in Villanova’s last 10.

For Ohio State, EJ Liddell‘s 19.5 points and eight rebounds per game are critical for the Buckeyes against the Wildcats. At 6-foot-7, Liddell isn’t the strongest presence in the post, but provides Ohio State with a versatility in terms of stretching the floor, as he can score at all three levels.

Historically, Ohio State came out on top over Villanova 76-51 in the last meeting between these two program in 2019. Villanova is 1-2 against the Buckeyes since 1949-1950, with the only other victory by Ohio State coming in the 1939 Final Four.