<p>Houston shoots for a second straight Final Four berth, Villanova its third over the last six NCAA<br />
tournaments, when the teams meet in the South Region final Saturday evening in San Antonio.<br />
The Wildcats are the higher seed in this match-up but it’s the Cougars, playing only a three-hour<br />
drive from home, who are favored by a bucket.<br />
How are we playing this game with our free college basketball betting pick?</p>
<h2>NCAA Tournament Betting Odds </h2>
<p>The Elite Eight betting lines opened Houston as a two-point favorite over Villanova, with an<br />
over/under of right around 128. Both figures were holding steady in the early betting action.<br />
According to Sagarin’s CBB ratings at sagarin.com the Cougars should be favored by two points<br />
for this match-up.</p>
<h2>Houston-Villanova NCAA Tournament Betting Preview </h2>
<p>The Cougars reached this South Region final by beating top-seeded Arizona in a regional semi-<br />
final Thursday night 72-60. Houston popped out to a double-digit lead six minutes into the game<br />
and took a 34-28 advantage into halftime. The Cougars later pushed their lead to 12 points with<br />
seven minutes to go and held on from there for the victory.</p>
<p>Houston shot 46 percent from the floor Thursday night, held the Wildcats to just 33 percent FG<br />
shooting, out-rebounded Arizona 37-35 and won the turnover battle 14-12.</p>
<p>The Cougars, dual champions in the AAC this season, opened this NCAA tournament with an<br />
82-68 win over UAB, covering at -8.5, then stuffed Illinois 68-53, covering at -3.5.<br />
Stretching back into February Houston is 12-1 SU, 11-2 ATS over its last 13 games. The Cougars<br />
are also now 5-4 SU, 6-3 ATS this season against teams that made this NCAA tournament.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Wildcats reached this South Region final by beating 11 th -seeded Michigan in the<br />
other regional semi-final Thursday night 63-55. Villanova trailed 22-20 late in the first half but<br />
spurted to a 31-28 lead into the locker room. The Wildcats later pushed their lead to nine a<br />
couple times in the second half, let the Wolverines get within 54-50 with three minutes left but<br />
held on for the win and the money at -5.</p>
<p>Villanova only shot 37 percent from the field Thursday night but held Michigan to just 34<br />
percent FG shooting.<br />
The Wildcats opened this NCAA tournament with an 80-60 win over Delaware, covering at -15,<br />
then beat Ohio State 71-61, covering at -5.<br />
So stretching back into February Villanova is 13-1 SU, 7-6-1 ATS over its last 14 games. The<br />
Wildcats are also now 12-7 SU, 9-9-1 ATS this season against teams that made this NCAA<br />
tournament.<br />
These teams last met back in 1991, a Houston victory.<br />
<section></p>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="color:#008000;"><span style="background-color:#ffffff;">Get more details:</span></span> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/ncaab/matchup/1647681">Houston vs. Villanova 3/26/22 Betting Matchup Stats</a></span>
</li>
</ul>
<p></section></p>
<h2>NCAA Tournament Betting Trends</h2>
<ul>
<li>Through Thursday’s play the favorites are 37-18 SU, 25-30 ATS in this NCAA tournament.</li>
<li>Through Thursday the higher seeds are 34-18 SU, 22-30 ATS in this NCAA tournament.</li>
<li>The Big East Conference is 6-4 SU, 7-3 ATS in this NCAA tournament.</li>
<li>The AAC is 4-1 SU, 5-0 ATS in this NCAA tournament.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Totals Report</h2>
<p>The unders are 20-15 in Cougars games this season, which are averaging 135 total points.<br />
The unders are 19-17 in Wildcats games this season, which are averaging 137 points.<br />
Through Thursday’s action the overs are 29-27 in this NCAA tournament.</p>