ODU vs. Villanova, Picks and Prediction, Tuesday Nov. 25, 2025
The Villanova Wildcats (4-1) will host the ODU Monarchs (3-4) on Tuesday in a non-conference college basketball matchup.
In the Sports Illustrated preseason rankings, the Wildcats were slated 64th and Old Dominion was 252nd.
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Still a lot to prove
Old Dominion went 15-20 last season in head coach Mike Jones’ first year. They finished 282nd in KenPom, ranked 250th defensively, and 293rd on offense. This year, they enter with plenty left to prove. They’re 3-0 at home but 0-4 on the road, and still searching for a true statement win. ODU's victories include a 40-point rout over non-Division I Randolph, a 60-57 win over Norfolk State, and an 88-56 blowout over Morgan State. But they’ve also absorbed heavy losses to George Washington and Xavier, dropped a 75-71 road game to Drexel, and opened the season with an 87-72 loss to Miami (OH).
Through seven games, ODU sits 228th in KenPom, with clear issues defensively (266th) and a modest offense (197th). They’re also 257th in pace. KC Shaw (14.2 ppg) leads the Monarchs in scoring but has missed the last two games due to injury. LJ Thomas (13.4 ppg, 3.9 apg) and Jordan Battle (10.6 ppg, 6 rpg, 3.7 apg) have appeared in every game and continue to be impact players.
Solid start to a new era
Villanova went 21-15 last season before losing 104-98 in overtime to UCF in the Crown Semifinals. They finished 56th in KenPom, ranking 26th in adjusted offensive efficiency and 108th on defense. The Wildcats were senior-heavy last season and lost their top four scorers, including Eric Dixon (23.3 ppg).
This season is a fresh start, and Villanova has looked sharp early under head coach Kevin Willard, who spent the last three seasons at Maryland and led the Terps to a 27-9 record and a Sweet 16 trip last year.
After a 71-66 loss to BYU, Villanova has ripped off four straight double-digit wins over Queens, Sacred Heart, Duquesne, and La Salle. Bryce Lindsay, a 6'3" guard who averaged 13.4 ppg at James Madison, leads the team at 20.4 ppg. Duke Brennan, a 6’10" transfer from Grand Canyon, adds 10.2 ppg and a nation-best 14.4 rebounds per game, including a 20-rebound explosion in a 94-74 win over Queens on November 8.
Villanova ranks 339th in adjusted tempo but is balanced overall, sitting 40th in KenPom, with the 42nd-ranked offense and 44th-ranked defense.
Old Dominion Monarchs at Villanova Wildcats Predictions
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Earle Sports Bets | +2,298.00 |
| 2 |  Ross Benjamin | +1,840.00 |
| 3 |  Rob Vincilleti | +1,757.00 |
| 4 |  David Hess | +1,745.00 |
| 5 |  Dan Kaiser | +987.00 |
ODU vs Villanova ATS Pick:
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Villanova -19.5 (4 units)
Villanova is 4-1 ATS this season, with the lone miss being a half-point shy of the cover in a 10-point win as a 10.5-point favorite against Duquesne. On the other side, Old Dominion is just 1-5 ATS and has struggled on both ends. Villanova doesn’t suffer drop-offs offensively or defensively; they have the nation’s top rebounder, legit depth, and meaningful experience. They’re also a top-100 team in both threes made and three-point percentage.
ODU sits in the bottom half nationally in every major offensive category and is dealing with an injury to its leading scorer KC Shaw. This has all the makings of an ugly loss for the Monarchs.
ODU vs Villanova Total Pick:
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Under 145.5 (4 units)
Old Dominion is going to struggle badly in the half-court, and Villanova’s pace will make this game slow and physical. ODU doesn’t have the shooting or athletes to turn this into a high-scoring track meet, and Villanova isn’t the type of team that will try to run up the score late. The Monrachs are 251st in Adjusted Tempo. Expect Nova to build a comfortable lead and then grind the game down as they head into the holidays looking to stay healthy.
I’ll take the under.
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