Expert prediction
NCAA First Round: Utah State vs Villanova Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 20)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- The Aggies make their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
- The Wildcats are back in their first NCAA Tournament since 2022.
- This marks the second all-time matchup between the two squads.
The first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament will enjoy a huge showdown when the Villanova Wildcats take on the Utah State Aggies on Friday afternoon. The ranked squad comes out as the slight favorite, but the Wildcats have the talent to give the conference powerhouse a run for their money.
How to Watch
- When: Friday, March 20, 4:10 pm ET
- Where: Viejas Arena, San Diego, California
- How to Watch: TNT
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah State | -111 | -2 | O147 |
| Villanova | -109 | +2 | U147 |
Game Preview
The Aggies (28-6) are going Dancing for the fourth consecutive season, continuing their presence in March Madness as a Mountain West representative. Jerrod Calhoun was named the league’s coach of the year, Mason Falslev earned player of the year recognition, along with a spot on the first team and all-defensive team, and Karson Templin was named the sixth man of the year. MJ Collins Jr. and Mason Falslev have been two of the top scorers in the Mountain West, each ranking in the top seven in both scoring and shooting percentage. Mason Falslev and Drake Allen rank first and second in the league in steals per game, averaging 1.971 and 1.97, respectively. As a team, the Aggies rank 23rd nationally with 8.8 steals per game.
The Wildcats (24-8) enjoyed a strong regular season in their first year under head coach Kevin Willard. They already produced 24 victories, the most ever by a first-year head coach in program history. The team boasts a balanced offensive attack that includes five players who averaged between 13.7 ppg (Tyler Perkins) and 10.0 ppg (Devin Askew). Askew shines as a perimeter sharpshooter, making 64 3-pointers on a 40.8% clip this season.
Utah State vs Villanova Head-to-Head
The two programs have had one meeting in their history, and the result is 1-0 for the Wildcats. The last matchup was March 1960 when Utah State won 73-72.
Utah State vs Villanova Predictions
The winner of that game will move on to face the winner of 1-seed Arizona and 16-seed LIU in the round of 32 on Sunday, March 22. This game will be a tossup as both squads will look to this game down to the wire. It will come down to the biggest plays in the closing minutes, something that Villanova will look to have Tyler Perkins and Devin Askew lead the way in that department. Our betting pick here is the Wildcats to cover a 2-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick: Villanova Wildcats +2
NCAAB
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