Butler Bulldogs vs Villanova Wildcats Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 02/25/26

Following a 6-game losing streak, the Butler Bulldogs have won 2 games in a row over Georgetown and Xavier and will look to make it 3 in a row with an upset win at Villanova on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Villanova’s 6-game win streak was snapped with a 73-63 home loss to UConn over the weekend, a game in which the Wildcats scored just 1 point per possession while knocking down just 25% of their perimeter attempts. Butler and Villanova already met once this year at Hinkle Fieldhouse, and it was Villanova that came away with a convincing 85-67 win. The Cats held the Dogs to 0.94 points per possession in that contest. 

This is a tricky spot for Villanova, coming off a loss to UConn with St. John’s on deck this weekend. That being said, I’m not confident in Butler being the team to take advantage of this potential sandwich spot given their struggles on both ends. The Bulldogs are in the 12th percentile in effective field goal percentage over their last 5 games, while sitting in the 27th percentile in defensive rating over that span. Furthermore, the Bulldogs are shorthanded without Azavier Robinson for the rest of the season, who was one of their better perimeter defenders. 

The Wildcats had a field day from two-point range against Butler on the road in the first meeting, connecting on 25-of-37 attempts. That success is repeatable against a Butler defense that is dead last in the conference in adjusted defensive efficiency and two-point percentage allowed, as well as 3rd-worst in block rate. In fact, since February 1st, the Bulldogs are surrendering an average of nearly 60% on two-point attempts, which puts them 347th nationally. Not to mention, they’re 309th in three-point rate allowed in that span, which Villanova can take full advantage of given their 2nd-ranked three-point rate in conference with multiple capable shooters. I lean toward ignoring the spot and laying it with Villanova in this one.

Butler vs Villanova prediction: Villanova Wildcats -9.5 (-115) at the time of publishing. Playable to -10. 

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