If #8 Villanova (25-3, 13-2) beats Marquette (17-11, 9-6) today at 2:00 pm EST (FS1), they should move to number five, behind Florida, Wichita State, Arizona, and Duke (number four if Arizona loses today, and, in my opinion, they should be ahead of Duke and their six losses anyway). Beyond Marquette comes a tough away game at Xavier (20-9, 10-6), who are hot but lost to 'Nova in their last meeting, 81-58, and then a home finale against Georgetown (16-12, 7-9). No easy games there, but also no ranked opponents. Such is the story of the Big East this year.

Yesterday, my brother and I wondered if playing a schedule of cupcakes and steak dinners (meaning a combination of easy games and ranked foes) versus the schedule Villanova has mostly played (in conference at least) of strong but not elite opponents (besides Creighton, who has their number). That schedule, and their checkered past with Creighton, has seemed to hurt them in the polls - why teams like Louisville and Duke were most recently ahead of them.

Beating teams you should and having a so-so success against the elite (they beat Kansas and Iowa earlier in the year) could be a useful skill come the NCAA tournament in helping them advance past the early rounds and at least give them a chance at a deep run come the Sweet 16 and so forth.

Marquette definitely qualifies as one of those above average teams. They've also beaten the teams they should while losing perhaps more games than their coach would prefer. Most recently, the Golden Eagles have won five out of six, except those five weren't against the best the Big East has to offer.

Against Villanova, they'll be 10 point underdogs. Like the way the Big East has been going this year, I think Marquette follows suit and fails to cover. Villanova is the pick.

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Record: 21-33

Butler @ Creighton: L (picked Butler, +10.5)

UConn @ Memphis: L (picked Memphis, -7.5)

Depaul @ Villanova: W (picked Villanova, -17.5)

Pittsburg @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -5.5)

Creighton @ Villanova: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)

Baylor @ Kansas: W (picked Baylor, + 10.5)

Indiana @ Michigan State: L (picked Michigan State, -12)

Iowa @ Michigan: L (picked Iowa, + 1.5)

Colorado @ Arizona: W (picked Colorado, + 14.5)

Illinois @ Ohio State: W (picked Illinois, + 11)

Michigan @ Michigan State: W (picked Michigan, + 4.5)

Villanova @ Marquette: W (picked Villanova, -3)

Utah @ Arizona: W (picked Utah, + 15)

Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State: W (picked Oklahoma, + 4.5)

Villanova @ Georgetown: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)

Michigan State @ Iowa: W (picked Michigan State, + 5)

St. John's @ Creighton: W (picked St. John's, + 12)

Iowa State @ Kansas: L (picked Iowa State, + 8.5)

Syracuse @ Wake Forest: L (picked Syracuse, -10)

Purdue @ Michigan: L (picked Michigan, -12)

Florida @ Mississippi State: W (picked Miss. State, + 15)

Duke @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -3)

Xavier @ Villanova: L (picked Xavier, + 10)

Nebraska @ Michigan: L (picked Nebraska, + 13)

Boston College @ Virginia: L (picked Virginia, -13)

Oregon @ Arizona: L (picked Arizona, -11)

Oklahamo State @ Texas Tech: W (picked Texas Tech, + 6.5)

West Virginia @ Kansas: L (picked WVU, + 14)

Maryland @ Virginia: L (picked Virginia, -11)

Iowa State @ West Virginia: L (picked Iowa State, - 1.5)

Michigan @ Ohio State: L (picked Ohio State, -3.5)

Florida @ Tennessee: W (picked Florida, - 1.5)

Syracuse @ Pittsburg: W (picked Syracuse, + 2.5 -- absurd line)

Villanova @ Depaul: W (picked Villanova, -14)

Creighton @ Butler: L (picked Creighton, -8.5)

West Virginia @ Texas: W (picked Texas, -6)

Florida @ Kentucky: L (picked Kentucy, -2)

VCU @ Saint Louis: W (picked VCU, +4.5)

Villanova @ Creighton: L (picked Villanova, -3.5)

Texas @ Iowa State: L (picked Texas, +6)

Villanova @ Providence: L (picked Villanova, -4.5)

Wichita State @ Loyola: L (picked Loyola, + 13.5)

Creighton @ Marquette: W (picked Creighton, -3)

Gonzaga @ BYU: L (picked Gonzaga, +2)

Duke @ North Carolina: L (picked Duke, -2)

St. John's @ Villanova: W (picked St. John's, + 8.5)

Seton Hall @ Creighton: L (picked Creighton, -13.5)

Syracuse @ Maryland: L (picked Syracuse, -4.5

Indiana @ Wisconsin: W (picked Wisconsin, -10.5)

Butler @ Villanova: L (picked Villanova, -14.5)

North Carolina @ North Carolina State: L (picked UNC, -4)

Arkansas @ Kentucky: W (picked Arkansas, + 10.5)

Missouri State @ Wichita State: L (picked Missouri State, + 17.5)

Syracuse @ Virginia: L (picked Syracuse, +3.5)