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A veteran Villanova Wildcats team that has experienced winning a national title will try to continue their quest for another championship when they take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in a South Region second round matchup of the 2022 NCAA Tournament on Sunday. Two members of the Wildcats (27-7) – Collin Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels – were members of the 2018 team that won the national championship. On Sunday, they will face an Ohio State (20-11) team that is trying to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2013.

Tipoff from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh is set for 2:40 p.m. ET. The Wildcats are favored by 4.5-points in the latest Villanova vs. Ohio State odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 134. Before making any Ohio State vs. Villanova picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of almost $1,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Ohio State vs. Villanova and revealed its coveted picks and predictions for the NCAA Tournament 2022. You can head to SportsLine to see all of the model's college basketball picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Villanova vs. Ohio State:

  • Villanova vs. Ohio State spread: Wildcats -4.5
  • Villanova vs. Ohio State over-under: 134 points
  • Villanova vs. Ohio State money line: Wildcats -230, Buckeyes +190
  • NOVA: The Wildcats lead the nation in free throw percentage (82.3).
  • OHST: E.J. Liddell leads the Big Ten in blocks per game (2.6).

Why Villanova can cover

Gillespie is having another standout season. The fifth-year senior leads the team in points (15.9) and assists per game (3.4). He also is shooting 44.3 percent from the field, 42.3 percent on 3-pointers and 89.4 percent from the free throw line. In the Wildcats' 80-60 victory over Delaware on Friday, Gillespie made 4-of-9 3-pointers, scored 14 points and added four rebounds and four assists.

In addition, Villanova has one of the oldest starting lineups in the country. The Wildcats start two fifth-year seniors, another senior, a junior and a redshirt sophomore. Their top bench player, Caleb Daniels, also is a fifth-year senior. 

Why Ohio State can cover

E.J. Liddell is having a historically good season. The 6-foot-7 junior forward from Belleville, Ill., is averaging 19.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.5 assists per game. Only Jason Thompson (Rider) and Tim Duncan (Wake Forest) have averaged those numbers for an entire season in the last 30 years.

In addition, Ohio State has forward Kyle Young back and healthy. The 6-foot-8 forward from Canton, Ohio, missed several games at the end of the season with a concussion, which contributed to the team losing four of its five games prior to the NCAA Tournament. But Young, who averaged 8.3 points and 5.0 rebounds this season. returned on Friday and had nine points and seven rebounds in 34 minutes.

How to make Ohio State vs. Villanova picks

SportsLine's model is leaning over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 143 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Villanova vs. Ohio State? And which side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks, and find out.