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DePaul heads to the Finneran Pavilion on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, for a Big East road test against Villanova, with tip set for 6:00 PM ET on FS1. The Blue Demons are 8-5 and still trying to prove they can travel, while Villanova is 10-2 and a perfect 7-0 at home.
This is also a number-and-pace game from a betting perspective. Villanova is laying a big spread because they’ve been reliable in this building, and DePaul just came off an ugly offensive night in a 72-54 loss to Connecticut. If the Wildcats control tempo early, this can get out of hand quickly.
DePaul Blue Demons vs Villanova Wildcats Odds
These are the current betting lines for this matchup, but bettors should always monitor updated college basketball odds leading into tipoff at the latest College Basketball Odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DePaul Blue Demons | +681 | +13.5 (-113) | O 136.5 (-113) |
| Villanova Wildcats | -1225 | -13.5 (-110) | U 136.5 (-113) |
DePaul Blue Demons Betting Form
DePaul’s profile right now is a mix of “can score” and “can disappear,” sometimes within the same week. They’re averaging 74.7 points per game, they’re willing to attack downhill and draw contact, and that can matter in underdog spots because free throws are how you hang around when the half-court offense stalls. The problem is when the threes are not falling, the floor drops fast, and that UConn game is a clean example.
From a matchup lens, DePaul needs a cleaner shot diet than what we saw in that 72-54 loss. If they’re settling early or getting pushed off their spots, they’re not built to grind out long possessions for 40 minutes. You can track the splits and trends on the DePaul Blue Demons team page, and if DePaul is going to threaten the number, it usually starts with shot-making and staying out of extended scoring droughts.
Villanova Wildcats Betting Form
Villanova has looked like a team that understands how to win possessions at home. They’re 7-0 in this building, they’re comfortable playing through structure, and they typically do a good job avoiding the kind of sloppy stretches that keep underdogs alive. That stability is a big reason the market is comfortable laying -13.5 here.
The Seton Hall win (64-56) is also the kind of game that hints at Villanova’s path in spreads like this. They don’t need a track meet. They need control, defensive rebounding, and enough spacing to generate clean looks without turning it into a whistle-heavy mess. If you want a broader snapshot of how they’ve been performing, the Villanova Wildcats team page is the quickest way to check what’s trending.
DePaul Blue Demons vs Villanova Wildcats Matchup Breakdown
The spread is basically telling you Villanova’s half-court edge matters, and that DePaul’s offense is considered volatile on the road. That checks out. Villanova’s home-court consistency usually shows up in the little things: fewer empty trips, better late-clock execution, and fewer “live-ball” turnovers that turn into runouts.
DePaul’s best chance to make this uncomfortable is to score before Villanova’s defense gets set and to convert free throws when they do get into the paint. If the Blue Demons are forced to play late-clock basketball for most of the night, it’s hard to trust them for 40 minutes, especially with Villanova’s ability to string together stops without fouling.
If you want a framework for how to price big home favorites in conference play, the college basketball betting guide is useful here because it’s often less about “who is better” and more about whether the underdog can manufacture enough efficient possessions to avoid the avalanche.
DePaul Blue Demons vs Villanova Wildcats Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Villanova on the spread. The number is big, sure, but it’s big for a reason: DePaul’s offense has shown too many flat spots, and Villanova’s home profile suggests they can keep the game in their preferred tempo without giving away transition points.
The total is the trickier piece. DePaul can contribute if they hit early threes and get to the line, but if this turns into a Villanova-controlled possession game, you can get stuck in the mid-60s for DePaul again. That’s why I’m more comfortable attacking the side than trying to outguess the scoring environment.
If you’re playing DePaul, you’re basically betting that Villanova’s offense stalls enough to keep this in single digits late. I just don’t see that as the most likely script given what Villanova has been at home.
Best Bet: Villanova Wildcats -13.5 (-110).
College Basketball Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re betting college hoops regularly, it helps to compare multiple viewpoints instead of locking into one read. The NCAAB picks page is built for that, especially on nights with a full board where you’re trying to decide which spreads are actually worth laying versus which are just “name tax.”
The other edge is accountability. You can browse the best handicappers list, check the handicapper leaderboard to see who’s actually producing, and if you want a deeper card than the free menu, the buy picks page is where the premium selections live.
