Game Details:
- Matchup: Villanova Wildcats (20-14) vs. USC Trojans (17-17)
- Tournament: Inaugural College Basketball Crown (CBC) – Quarterfinal Round
- Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
- Time: 9:30 PM ET
- Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV
- TV: Fox Sports 1
- Spread: Villanova -5.5
- Total (Over/Under): 151.5
Preview:
Postseason basketball continues in Las Vegas as the Villanova Wildcats clash with the USC Trojans in a quarterfinal matchup of the first-ever College Basketball Crown tournament. Both teams are seeking to capitalize on this opportunity after finishing their regular seasons and conference tournaments.
Villanova (20-14) enters as the betting favorite. Led by standout forward Eric Dixon, who averages an impressive 23 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 42.0% from beyond the arc (making 2.9 threes per game), the Wildcats possess significant offensive firepower. Betting trends also favor Villanova, as they are reportedly 5-0 against the spread (ATS) in their last five games against Big Ten opponents (USC’s future conference home). Additionally, the total has gone OVER in four of Villanova’s last five games, suggesting a tendency towards higher-scoring contests recently.
USC (17-17) battled to a .500 record and earned their place in this new postseason event. While specific player stats weren’t highlighted in the snippets, reaching this quarterfinal shows they are competitive. They face a challenge against a Wildcats team that seems to be playing well against similar competition, at least from a betting perspective. Playing on the neutral court of the MGM Grand Garden Arena negates any true home-court advantage for the West Coast-based Trojans.
Based on the current betting lines, the implied score for this game is approximately Villanova 79, USC 74.
Prediction:
Villanova comes in with the better record, a proven scorer in Eric Dixon, and strong recent ATS trends against Big Ten-level teams. USC’s presence here shows resilience, but overcoming the Wildcats on a neutral court will be tough. Dixon’s ability to score both inside and out poses a significant matchup problem.
- Spread Pick: Villanova -5.5. The Wildcats’ offensive consistency, led by Dixon, and their recent success covering against Big Ten-caliber teams suggest they can win by at least six points.
- Total Pick: Over 151.5. Villanova’s recent games have trended over, and Dixon’s scoring prowess contributes to that. The implied score based on the odds (153 points) also points slightly towards the over. Expect both teams, seeing an opportunity in this new tournament, to push the pace enough to surpass the total.Sources:
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