Basketball Free Picks: Villanova Wildcats at Pittsburgh Panthers

Sunday, February 05, 2012

by Joe Rodriguez

Tray Woodall - Basketball Free Picks: Villanova Wildcats at Pittsburgh Panthers

If the last two weeks in the Big East have taught us anything, it is that Pittsburgh Panthers is a completely different team with a healthy Tray Woodall running the point.

The junior from Brooklyn missed 11 of 12 games with a groin injury, including five straight Big East losses. The Panthers dropped their seventh straight conference meeting when Woodall sluggishly returned to the lineup Jan. 21 but have won three straight since, all keyed in part by the guard.

Attempting to stop the Pittsburgh train from really blasting into gear will be Villanova, which visits the Petersen Events Center.

The Villanova Wildcats are another traditional Big East power trying to climb out of a hole. It looked as though they had begun to emerge with back-to-back wins Jan. 18 and 21 but have since lost two in a row to drop into a tie for 13th in the conference with Pittsburgh.

- Villanova Wildcats @ Pittsburgh Panthers
When: 2:00 PM ET, Sunday, February 5, 2012
Where: Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TV: 2 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN3.com
Check Live NCAA Basketball Odds on Justbet Sportsbook .

Justbet Sportsbook currently have the Panthers listed as 8-point favorites versus the Wildcats.

Villanova Wildcats (10-12): The Wildcats figured to have enough pieces to contend even without departed seniors Corey Fisher, Corey Stokes and Antonio Pena. What the Wildcats have found is that Maalik Wayns needs help. Wayns has stepped up as the main scorer but does not have anyone joining him. Villanova ranks 15th in the Big East in field goal percentage offense, shooting only 42.1 percent from the field. The Wildcats lost to the Panthers twice last season, averaging only 52 points in the setbacks.

Pittsburgh Panthers (14-9): The Panthers lost eight straight games, including the first seven of the Big East slate. But with a healthy Woodall back in the lineup, Pittsburgh looks a lot more like the preseason top 10 team that was predicted. Woodall is averaging 15 points and 7.3 assists in the last three games and the Panthers have averaged 76.7 points after putting up 59.8 during the losing streak. Sunday could come down to a battle on the glass. The Panthers lead the Big East in rebounding margin while the Wildcats rank third.

1. Wayns put up 27 points in the second meeting with the Panthers last season.

2. Panthers guard Ashton Gibbs needs two 3-point attempts to set the school record.

3. Pittsburgh has won three straight in the series.

BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Panthers 77, Wildcats 68.

Bet on NCAA College Basketball games with Justbet Sportsbook , Bet now!

Related Articles

Category

Tags

antonio pena - ashton gibbs - corey fisher - corey stokes - maalik wayns - petersen events center - pittsburgh panthers - tray woodall - villanova wildcats

Live Scores & Odds

Sportsbooks Reviews

Bovada Odds & Lines

Bovada Odds & Props

Sportsbooks Promotions


NBA Basketball

Articles Category