Update: Game Results: The VUHoops Crowd did an exceptional job with their predictions for this game. With the Cat’s 78-74 win over Temple, we congratulate three VU Hoops readers who took medals in this game. Gold Medal: Nervous Nelly (78-74) scored our second bulls-eye of the season, earning 10 points; Silver Medal: regred (78-75), earning 3 points; Bronze Medal: Simple’07 (80-74), earning 1 point. Our updated leader board is provided below.
VUHoops vs. Vegas: Based on the average predicted scores of the VUHoops Crowd, we would have bet $100 each on THE OVER (130.5) and TEMPLE +6. VUHoops would have won both bets, putting us ahead for the season +$200.
LEADER BOARD AFTER 12 ROUNDS
| Reader | Points |
| Joe | 12.5 |
| Nervous Nelly | 10.5 |
| Pat'12 | 10.5 |
| TC'87 | 10.5 |
| TK87 | 8.5 |
| Hugh Jass | 7.5 |
| Joey | 7.5 |
| Dj pizzle | 6.0 |
| mfc4293 | 6.0 |
| Beardog | 5.0 |
| novafan95 | 5.0 |
| Steph | 4.5 |
| Andy'06 | 4.0 |
| Stevie V | 3.5 |
| Ed'08 | 3.0 |
| miles'88 | 3.0 |
| regred | 3.0 |
| Colt | 2.5 |
| doctor feelgoodes | 2.5 |
| Palsgraf | 2.5 |
| super nova | 2.5 |
| David '06 | 2.0 |
| cdtoffers | 1.5 |
| CMM | 1.5 |
| DP5 | 1.5 |
| EG'77 | 1.5 |
| Esto | 1.5 |
| FLM'33 | 1.5 |
| friartownmayor'13 | 1.5 |
| Mark A | 1.5 |
| mprams | 1.5 |
| Pete (Aliti 13) | 1.5 |
| Chicken Dinner | 1.0 |
| Pena Power | 1.0 |
| Rich'09 | 1.0 |
| Simple'07 | 1.0 |
| Vinny'06 | 1.0 |
| bgunn | 0.5 |
| Brendan '10 | 0.5 |
| Christopher Coggins | 0.5 |
| David | 0.5 |
| FishersTalent13 | 0.5 |
| jimmy | 0.5 |
| Kitlesfan95 | 0.5 |
| mattymo | 0.5 |
Update: Wednesday, December 29 (Game Time). A total of 87 VUHoops readers posted predictions, with 11 (13%) picking Temple to win. As a group, the readers see ‘Nova winning in a low scoring game, 71-67 (a margin of 4.0 points and implied over/under of 138). The Vegas odds makers are picking 'Nova by 6.0 points with the over/under set at 130.5, implying a final score of 68-62. Bosshoghazzard predicts that "[‘Nova] rips [Temple] by no less than 70, 127 to 50."
VUHoops vs. Vegas: The VUHoops Crowd would bet THE OVER and TEMPLE +6.
SCATTER PLOT OF PREDICTED SCORES
Window Opening: Tuesday, December 28 (8:00 pm). The window is now open for readers to post their predicted final scores for ‘Nova’s game vs. Temple on Thursday at 7:00 PM (Pavilion / ESPN2) in our Closest to the Pin Contest. After eleven rounds, Joe sits alone atop the leader board with 12.5 points. Click here to see our full leader board.
The #8 Cats (10-1) have an RPI of 37, a SOS of 186 and are scoring an average of 76.7 PPG while giving up an average of 58.5 PPG. The Owls (9-2) are ranked #25, have an RPI of 10, a SOS of 29, and score an average of 68.1 PPG while allowing an average of 58.1 PPG. Temple’s more notable wins have come against Seton Hall (+6), Georgia (+7), Maryland (+3), Georgetown (+3), and Akron (+35). Their two losses have come against California (-7) and Texas A&M (-3). More statistical information about Temple is available at Statsheet.com.
Be sure to check out MIKE's game preview.
Special Note: When posting predictions, please be sure to:
- List your predicted score for Villanova first, followed by the score for the opponent (e.g., Cats 100, Owls 75)
- Note that for December – March Games (except Rivalry Games), points are awarded to winners as follows: Bulls-eye = 10 points; Gold (non-bulls-eye) =5 pts; Silver = 3pts; Bronze = 1pt.
- Note the following rule change: given the extraordinary number of readers participating in the contest, we can no longer enforce our rule prohibiting duplicate score predictions.
- Use a consistent handle / ID so that we can keep an accurate running leader board over the course of the season. Obviously, score predictions posted by guests or anonymous readers cannot be accepted.