Pittsburgh vs Villanova odds - Big East war in Elite 8

As the March Madness odds reach the Elite 8 stage this weekend, it’s interesting that one of the most exciting, difficult-to-predict matchups so far in the tournament features two teams that have taken entirely different routes to get there. Whereas the No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers squeaked through by the skin of their teeth in each online betting round, the No. 3 Villanova Wildcats have breezed through their games.

Pittsburgh vs Villanova odds – Saturday, March 28

• Pittsburgh rallied from an eight-point deficit to beat Xavier in the Sweet 16
• Levance Fields has been money in the clutch for Pittsburgh
• Villanova’s 14 all-time wins over higher-seeded teams are most in March Madness history

This year’s round of March Madness betting has been less about Cinderella stories and more about seeing long-awaited clashes between powerhouses. The Pittsburgh vs Villanova odds feature two dominant Big East teams battling for the second time this season; Villanova took the first meeting 67-57 at home on Jan. 28.

Many sportsbook bettors would argue that the Panthers haven’t looked like a No. 1 seed at all so far in the Tournament. They had their hands full with No. 16 East Tennessee State in the first round and many March Madness odds followers just chalked it up to nerves. In the Round of 32, though, Pittsburgh was tied with Oklahoma State with less than three minutes remaining before guard Levance Fields took over and scored five unanswered points.

Thursday’s Sweet-16 clash with Xavier was an even closer call for Pittsburgh, which trailed by eight points at the half. The Panthers deserve a lot of credit for their resiliency; Big East co-player of the year DeJuan Blair had his umpteenth double-double of the tourney and the X-factor was once again Fields, who put Pittsburgh ahead with a clutch three, then scored two more points off a steal – all in the final minute.

But online betting fans have to wonder if Pittsburgh was also a bit lucky against Xavier; no matter how strong the Panthers were defensively, you need some luck for your opponent to miss its first 10 shots of the second half. Xavier’s cold spell allowed the Panthers to score nine straight points and climb back into the game.

Saturday will be much different, as Pittsburgh can’t afford to lag or fall behind against Villanova, who some people call the class of the March Madness odds so far. The Wildcats’ minimum margin of victory has been 13 points and the margin has actually risen the deeper they go in the Tournament. They made No. 2 Duke look like a No. 16 seed on Thursday and have achieved their success without relying on one guy in the March Madness odds, meaning Pittsburgh can’t key on just Dante Cunningham or Scottie Reynolds.

WASHINGTON’S PICK: On paper, it makes a ton of sense to pick the Wildcats on Pittsburgh vs Villanova odds in this one; after all, the Wildcats have been one of the two most dominant teams in so far (save for their first-half hiccup against American) and they’ve already beaten the Panthers in 2009.

But I worry they haven’t been pushed and tested the way Pittsburgh has. This will undoubtedly be an absolute nail-biter and, as Levance Fields has shown twice already, Pittsburgh has the big-game experience to come out on the right side of close games. Bet on Pittsburgh to squeak past Villanova in a classic, with Blair, Fields and Sam Young once again playing pivotal roles.

For more Pittsburgh vs Villanova odds and other online betting lines, swing by the BetOnline.com Sportsbook.

Washington Tucker was practically raised at Rucker Park. Though a freak knee injury cost him a major college basketball scholarship, his “sixth-sense” on the hardwood has translated into a spectacular career in basketball handicapping. Email Comments@BetOnline.com.