Villanova is 0-1, just like their opponent Holy Cross, but anyone looking at the numbers knows this Friday night game is not going to be a fair fight. The Wildcats are rolling into Finneran Pavilion as massive 31.5-point favorites against a Crusaders team that, frankly, is ranked among the worst in Division 1.
Villanova’s Rough Start vs. Holy Cross’s Uphill Battle
Despite that identical 0-1 record, the Wildcat’s recent loss was a real battle in the Eternal City Tip-Off Men’s Game against Notre Dame on November 1st, where Adam Oumiddoch of Villanova was seen reacting during the intense matchup. Now, they are back home and ready to put on a show against a much different caliber opponent. The analytics guys are screaming “mismatch.” KenPom ranks Villanova at 38, while Holy Cross sits at a dismal 362 out of 365 D1 teams. Torvik’s numbers are even starker, placing Villanova at 29 and Holy Cross at 347. Evan Miya keeps the trend going, showing Villanova at 36 and Holy Cross way down at 354. We are talking about a top-40 team against one barely cracking the bottom five.
What’s at Stake for Both Squads on Friday
This game, set for Friday, November 6, at 7 PM EST, is a chance for Villanova to get their season truly started. You can catch all the action on ESPN+ or listen in on the Villanova Sports Radio Network. For Holy Cross, it is an opportunity to prove the analytics wrong, or at least show some fight against a team that, on paper, should absolutely run them off the court. Will Villanova stomp on the gas and cover that massive line, or can the Crusaders pull off a miracle nobody expects? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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