Update: Saturday, February 5 (Game Results). With the Cat’s 66-50 victory over West Virginia, we congratulate four VU Hoops readers who took medals in this game. Gold Medal: honey badger (65-53) earning 5 points; Silver Medal: Clarkkell (67-58) earning 3 points; Bronze Medals: Mouph Man (64-58) and Pena Power (70-56) earning 1 point. Our updated leader board is provided below.
VUHoops vs. Vegas: Based on the average predicted scores of the VUHoops Crowd and the posted Vegas line, we would have broken even by betting ‘Nova -5.0 (win) and the Under (loss). The details follow. We remain for the season.+$1,000.
| VU Hoops | Vegas | Bet | Actual | Result | |
| Spread | 'Nova -6 | 'Nova -5 | 'Nova -5 | Nova by 16 | WIN |
| Total | 140.0 | 135.0 | OVER | 116 | LOSS |
Leader Board After 23 Rounds
| Reader | Points |
| BarneyRubble | 16.0 |
| Beardog | 15.5 |
| Pat'12 | 15.0 |
| chuck st.petersburg | 14.5 |
| Hugh Jass | 13.5 |
| Joe | 13.5 |
| TC'87 | 13.5 |
| regred | 13.0 |
| novafan95 | 12.5 |
| Joey | 10.5 |
| Mouph Man | 10.5 |
| Nervous Nelly | 10.5 |
| NovaFlyer | 10.0 |
| Palsgraf | 10.0 |
| Robertrise | 10.0 |
| TK87 | 9.5 |
| mj | 9.0 |
| Two in the Pinkston | 8.0 |
| NovaCat94 | 7.5 |
| Dj pizzle | 7.0 |
| mfc4293 | 7.0 |
| Pena Power | 7.0 |
| REPRESENT804 | 7.0 |
| friartownmayor | 6.5 |
| Kittlesfan95 | 6.5 |
| Steph | 6.5 |
| hit the bid | 6.0 |
| mattymo | 5.5 |
| Clarkkell | 5.0 |
| honey badger | 5.0 |
| Kait'08 | 5.0 |
| marty1029 | 5.0 |
| Old School | 5.0 |
| SeanDon | 5.0 |
| gaparch | 4.5 |
| Stevie V | 4.5 |
| Andy'06 | 4.0 |
| Colt | 4.0 |
| Ed'08 | 4.0 |
| doctor feelgoodes | 3.5 |
| Jimmy | 3.5 |
| Arctic Cat | 3.0 |
| Bill '77 | 3.0 |
| CJ | 3.0 |
| Mark Anderson | 3.0 |
| miles'88 | 3.0 |
| Novachamps22 | 3.0 |
| Schitzengigles | 3.0 |
| Simple'07 | 3.0 |
| Tommyboy | 3.0 |
| cdtoffers | 2.5 |
| super nova | 2.5 |
| David '06 | 2.0 |
| DMC | 2.0 |
| pttam7yanks | 2.0 |
| Bri'13 | 1.5 |
| CMM | 1.5 |
| DP5 | 1.5 |
| EG'77 | 1.5 |
| Esto | 1.5 |
| FLM'33 | 1.5 |
| Mark A | 1.5 |
| mprams | 1.5 |
| Pete (Aliti 13) | 1.5 |
| Chicken Dinner | 1.0 |
| dom | 1.0 |
| Johnnyb1 | 1.0 |
| Loser Cruiser | 1.0 |
| Lou '06 | 1.0 |
| Matt | 1.0 |
| Muhley | 1.0 |
| Rich'09 | 1.0 |
| Vinny'06 | 1.0 |
| bgunn | 0.5 |
| Brendan '10 | 0.5 |
| Christopher Coggins | 0.5 |
| David | 0.5 |
| FishersTalent13 | 0.5 |
Update: Saturday, February 5 (Game Time). A total of 66 VUHoops readers posted predictions, two picking the Mountaineers to win. As a group, the readers see ‘Nova winning by a score of 73-67 (a margin of 6.0 points and implied over/under of 140). The Vegas odds makers also are picking 'Nova to win by 5.0 points and set the over/under at 135 points, implying a final score of 70-65. KenPom.com’s model is predicting Nova to win by 4.0 points by a score of 69-65.
Scatter Plot of Predicted Scores
Window Opening: Friday, February 4 (5:30 AM). The window is now open for readers to post their predicted final scores for 'Nova's game vs. West Virginia on Saturday at 12 Noon (Wells Fargo Center) in our Closest to the Pin Contest. After twenty-two rounds, Barney Rubble has taken the lead with 16.0 points. Click here to see our updated leader board. In our VUHoops vs. Vegas competition, VUHoops is up $1,000.
The #12 Cats (18-4, 6-3) have an RPI of 15, a SOS of 29, and are scoring an average of 76.0 PPG while giving up an average of 64.0 PPG. The #25 Mountaineers (15-6, 6-3) have an RPI of 14, a SOS of 5, and are scoring an average of 72.0 PPG while giving up an average of 63.8 PPG.
West Virginia's Big East wins have come against DePaul (+2), Georgetown (+6), Providence (+30), South Florida (+10), Cincinnati (+11) and Seton Hall (+12). Their Big East losses have come against St. John's (-10), Marquette (-5) and Louisville (-1). More statistical information about West Virginia is available at Statsheet.com.
Be sure to read Brian's game preview.
Special Note: When posting scores, remember to list your predicted score for Villanova first, followed by the opponent's score (e.g., 'Nova 70 - West Virginia 65).