Update: Game Results: With the Cat’s 81-65 win over Rutgers, we congratulate six VU Hoops readers who took medals in this game. Gold Medals: chuck st. petersburg (81-65) and Robertrise (81-65) scored our third and fourth bulls-eyes of the season, earning 10 points each; Silver Medals: Bill’77 (80-65) and Tommyboy (81-66), earning 3 points each; Bronze Medals: hit the bid (81-67) and Mfc4293 (80-64), earning 1 point each. 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 on THE OVER (135.0); there would be no bet on the spread with both VUH and Vegas picking ‘Nova by 15 points. VUHoops would have won the OVER bet, putting us ahead for the season by $300.
Leader Board After 13 Rounds
| Reader | Points |
| Joe | 12.5 |
| Nervous Nelly | 10.5 |
| Pat'12 | 10.5 |
| TC'87 | 10.5 |
| chuck st.petersburg | 10.0 |
| Robertrise | 10.0 |
| TK87 | 8.5 |
| Hugh Jass | 7.5 |
| Joey | 7.5 |
| mfc4293 | 7.0 |
| Dj pizzle | 6.0 |
| Beardog | 5.0 |
| novafan95 | 5.0 |
| Steph | 4.5 |
| Andy'06 | 4.0 |
| Stevie V | 3.5 |
| Bill '77 | 3.0 |
| Ed'08 | 3.0 |
| miles'88 | 3.0 |
| regred | 3.0 |
| Tommyboy | 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 |
| hit the bid | 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: Sunday, January 2 (Game Time). A total of 64 VUHoops readers posted predictions, none picking Rutgers to win. As a group, the readers see ‘Nova winning by a score of 80-65 (a margin of 15.0 points and implied over/under of 145). The Vegas odds makers see a much lower scoring game, picking 'Nova by 15.0 points and setting the over/under at 135, implying a final score of 75-60.
VUHoops vs. Vegas: The VUHoops Crowd would bet THE OVER; with the VUHoops readers and Vegas both picking 'Nova by 15, there would be no bet on the spread.
SCATTER PLOT OF PREDICTED SCORES
Window Opening: Saturday, January 1 (9:00 am). The window is now open for readers to post their predicted final scores for ‘Nova’s Big East opener vs. Rutgers on Sunday at 1:00 PM (Pavilion / ESPNU) in our Closest to the Pin Contest. After twelve rounds, Joe remains alone atop the leader board with 12.5 points. Click here to see our full leader board.
The #8 Cats (11-1) have an RPI of 26, a SOS of 119 and are scoring an average of 76.8 PPG while giving up an average of 59.8 PPG. The Scarlet Knights (9-3) are unranked, have an RPI of 111, a SOS of 278, and score an average of 68.0 PPG while allowing an average of 59.8 PPG. Rutgers’ more notable wins have come against Miami (+16), Fairfield (+15) and St. Peter’s (+3). Their three losses have come against Princeton (-5), St. Joe’s (-6) and North Carolina (-23). More statistical information about Rutgers is available at Statsheet.com.
Be sure to check out Brian’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)
- All future 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