Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeat Villanova Wildcats 74-70: Recap, Betting Results & AiQ Picks
Sun, Nov 1, 2026 · NCAAB · Notre Dame Fighting Irish 74, Villanova Wildcats 70
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish beat the Villanova Wildcats 74-70 on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at Palazzo dello Sport, a neutral site. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish covered the spread as 7.5-point underdogs. The game went under the closing total of 145.5, with 144 points combined. AiQ went 0-3 on its moneyline, spread and total picks in this game.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Villanova Wildcats final score and game recap
The Villanova Wildcats led 35-31 at halftime. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish outscored the Villanova Wildcats 43-35 in the second half. They trailed by 4 points at halftime and came back to win.
The leading performers, from the box score:
- Brady Koehler (Notre Dame Fighting Irish): 16 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist.
- Braeden Smith (Notre Dame Fighting Irish): 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists.
- Tyler Perkins (Villanova Wildcats): 18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists.
- Elijah Crawford (Villanova Wildcats): 12 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists.
Who covered the spread in Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Villanova Wildcats?
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish covered the spread as 7.5-point underdogs and won outright, by 4 points.
The spread opened and closed at Villanova Wildcats -7.5. AiQ's pick was the Villanova Wildcats -7.5: a loss.
Did Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Villanova Wildcats go over or under the total?
The game went under: 144 points combined against a closing total of 145.5, under by 1.5. 66 of the 144 points came in the first half.
The total opened at 148 and closed at 145.5. AiQ's pick was the over 146.5, graded at that number rather than the close: a loss.
How did AiQ's Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Villanova Wildcats predictions do?
AiQ went 0-3 on its moneyline, spread and total picks in this game.
- Moneyline: the Villanova Wildcats to win at -325, a loss (-$100 on a $100 bet).
- Spread: the Villanova Wildcats -7.5, a loss.
- Total: the over 146.5, a loss.
AiQ was wrong on the moneyline, the spread and the total.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Villanova Wildcats game prop results: team totals and first half
AiQ does not pick game props. This is how the sportsbook markets settled.
- Villanova Wildcats team total 76.5: the under, paying -115, with 70 scored.
- First-half moneyline: Villanova Wildcats won the first half, paying -270.
- First-half total 67.5: the under, paying -115, with 66 points scored.
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish team total 69.5: the over, paying -110, with 74 scored.
- First-half spread: Notre Dame Fighting Irish +4.5 covered, paying -120.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Villanova Wildcats odds: sportsbook value and line movement
Shortly before the start, the consensus moneyline had the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at +245 and the Villanova Wildcats at -310. With the bookmaker's margin removed, that made the Villanova Wildcats a 72% favorite. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish won as the underdog at +245: $245 profit on a $100 bet. On AiQ's moneyline pick, the Villanova Wildcats, the price before the game was -325: priced below fair (−2.9% value).
The total moved down from 148 to 145.5, and the game went under.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Villanova Wildcats betting trends: 2026-27 season
This result left the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 1-0 in the 2026-27 regular season. Against the spread, they covered in 1 of 1 game with a closing line on file. Their only game with a closing total went under.
This result left the Villanova Wildcats 0-1 in the 2026-27 regular season. Against the spread, they covered in 0 of 1 game with a closing line on file. Their only game with a closing total went under.
What's next for Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Villanova Wildcats?
Next for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish: the Mercyhurst Lakers at home on Thursday, November 5, 2026. Next for the Villanova Wildcats: the Holy Cross Crusaders at home on Friday, November 6, 2026.