Kansas vs Villanova prediction, odds, line: 2022 NCAA Tournament pick, Final Four bets from proven model

Four teams remain in contention for the men’s national basketball title, and each team is set to face off Saturday night in the 2022 Final Four in New Orleans. In the first game of the evening, the Villanova Wildcats take on the Kansas Jayhawks with a berth in the 2022 NCAA Tournament Championship Game up for grabs. Villanova is the No. 2 seed in the South Region, posting a 30-7 overall record this season. Kansas is the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region with a 32-6 record and a nine-game winning streak. Justin Moore (Achilles) is out for Villanova.

Tipoff is at 6:09 p.m. ET in New Orleans. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Jayhawks as 4.5-point favorites, while the plus-minus, or total number of runs Vegas thinks will score, is 133 in the latest Villanova vs. Kansas odds. Before making choices between Kansas and Villanova, be sure to view college basketball predictions and betting tips from SportsLine’s proven computer model.

The SportsLine projection model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of over $1,200 for $100 players on its better college basketball pick against the spread. Everyone who followed him saw huge returns.

Now the model has set its sights on Kansas vs. Villanova and revealed his coveted picks and predictions for the 2022 NCAA Tournament. You can head to SportsLine to see all of the model’s college basketball picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Villanova vs Kansas:

• Difference between Villanova and Kansas: Kansas -4.5
• Villanova vs. Kansas over-under: 133 points
• Villanova money line vs. Kansas: Kansas -200, Villanova +170
• NOVA: Wildcats are 8-3 ATS in neutral-site games
• KU: Jayhawks are 6-5 ATS in neutral-site games

Why Villanova can cover

Villanova’s attack is prolific and efficient, with two top players with a wealth of experience at the forefront. Two-time Big East Player of the Year Collin Gillespie is Villanova’s centerpiece on the perimeter, averaging 15.6 points and connecting on nearly 41% of his 3-point attempts. Gillespie brings a solid hand, and he’s also a formidable defender, giving the Wildcats an effective option at the point of attack. Gillespie is flanked by senior forward Jermaine Samuels, who is averaging 11.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game this season while shooting 57.3% from inside the 3-point arc.

Samuels dominated the 2022 NCAA Tournament, averaging 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game on 63% shooting, and he broke for a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double against Houston in the Elite. Eight. Beyond high-end talent, Villanova has a weapon on the free-throw line, with historic efficiency on the charity strip. The Wildcats make 83.0 percent of free throw attempts, leading the nation, and Villanova currently boasts the best free throw accuracy in Division 1 history.

Why Kansas Can Cover

The Jayhawks excel at both ends of the field. Kansas is No. 7 in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency, attacking the opposition from the perimeter and putting pressure on the rim as well. The Jayhawks are making 35.6 percent of 3-point attempts and 53.8 percent of 2-point attempts, and Kansas is electric on the offensive glass. Kansas catches over 33% of their shots missed, resulting in a slew of second-chance opportunities, and Bill Self’s team is above average in assists, assists per game, rate of free throw creation and turnover avoidance.

Villanova struggles on the defensive glass and the Wildcats aren’t blocking shots high on defense. On the other side, Kansas is one of the top 20 defensive teams in the nation, and the Jayhawks hold their opponents at 47.0% 2-point shooting and 29.6% 3-point shooting. Kansas is solid on the defensive glass, getting over 72% of available rebounds, and the Jayhawks are significantly above the national average in block rate and free throw rate allowed. Villanova struggles inside the arc, making just 49.9% of 2-point shots, and the Wildcats have blocked 11.1% of their shots this season.

How to make choices between Villanova and Kansas

SportsLine’s model looks at the total, projecting the teams to combine for 143 points. The model also indicates that one side of the gap hits 60% of the time. You can only see the model choice on SportsLine.

So who wins Kansas against Villanova? And which side of the spread reaches 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you should jump on, all from the model who crushed his college basketball picks.and find out.