Villanova vs. Temple College Basketball Game Preview, Prediction, TV Schedule

TV Schedule: Wednesday, Feb. 17, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Arena: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA

 

The Villanova Wildcats are the No. 1 team in college basketball and hold a two-game lead over the Xavier Musketeers in the Big East, but will travel out of conference to face off with the Temple Owls on Wednesday night.

Temple, who has won five straight games to take the lead in the American Athletic Conference, is still considered out of the 2016 NCAA tournament at this point, so a win over Villanova could be just what this team needs to jump into the NCAA tournament picture and stay there. The Owls might not look like a great team on paper, but they get the job done time and time again.

That being said, it will take Temple’s best game of the season to defeat the Wildcats. Villanova has won five straight games in Big East play, which might be the most difficult conference from top to bottom in college basketball. On top of their in-conference success, the Wildcats allow the eighth fewest points per game of any team in the country, while Temple is ranked No. 269 in terms of points scored per game.

The Owls are great at pulling out close games against tough in-conference opponents, as they have five AAC wins by two possessions or less. However, they should get absolutely dominated by a much more talented Villanova team on Wednesday night. I expect Temple to sneak into the tournament some way or another, but it will absolutely not be by beating the No. 1 team in the country. Villanova rolls and holds onto its No. 1 spot for at least another game.

Prediction: Villanova 75, Temple 62