Closest to the Pin Round 27: DePaul
Update: Saturday, February 19 (Game Results). With the Cat’s 77-75 victory at DePaul, we congratulate five VU Hoops readers who took medals in this round. Gold Medals: Simple’07 (80-74) and Mouph Man (81-75), earning 5.0 points each; Silver Medals: mj (76-69) and Old School (75-70) earning 3.0 points each; Bronze Medal: The Chameleon (79-69) earning 1.0 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 lost $100 by betting the Over (loss). The details follow. With the loss, we drop to +$500 for the season.
| VU Hoops | Vegas | Bet | Actual | Result | |
| Spread | ‘Nova -12.0 | ‘Nova -12.0 | No Bet | Nova by 2 | N/A |
| Total | 138.0 | 141.5 | UNDER | 152 | LOSS |
Leader Board After 27 Rounds
| Reader | Points |
| BarneyRubble | 21.0 |
| Hugh Jass | 21.0 |
| Beardog | 18.5 |
| regred | 17.5 |
| Mouph Man | 15.5 |
| Pat’12 | 15.0 |
| chuck st.petersburg | 14.5 |
| Joe | 14.5 |
| TC’87 | 13.5 |
| novafan95 | 12.5 |
| mj | 12.0 |
| Robertrise | 11.0 |
| hit the bid | 10.5 |
| Joey | 10.5 |
| Nervous Nelly | 10.5 |
| NovaFlyer | 10.0 |
| Palsgraf | 10.0 |
| TK87 | 9.5 |
| Old School | 8.0 |
| Pena Power | 8.0 |
| Simple’07 | 8.0 |
| Two in the Pinkston | 8.0 |
| Chicken Dinner | 7.5 |
| NovaCat94 | 7.5 |
| Dj pizzle | 7.0 |
| mfc4293 | 7.0 |
| REPRESENT804 | 7.0 |
| DP5 | 6.5 |
| friartownmayor | 6.5 |
| Kittlesfan95 | 6.5 |
| Steph | 6.5 |
| mattymo | 5.5 |
| Clarkkell | 5.0 |
| honey badger | 5.0 |
| Jmac’09 | 5.0 |
| Kait’08 | 5.0 |
| marty1029 | 5.0 |
| SeanDon | 5.0 |
| gaparch | 4.5 |
| Stevie V | 4.5 |
| Andy’06 | 4.0 |
| Colt | 4.0 |
| dom | 4.0 |
| Ed’08 | 4.0 |
| doctor feelgoodes | 3.5 |
| Jimmy | 3.5 |
| Arctic Cat | 3.0 |
| Bill ’77 | 3.0 |
| CJ | 3.0 |
| DMC | 3.0 |
| Ed’77 | 3.0 |
| Mark Anderson | 3.0 |
| miles’88 | 3.0 |
| Novachamps22 | 3.0 |
| Schitzengigles | 3.0 |
| Tommyboy | 3.0 |
| cdtoffers | 2.5 |
| Pete (Aliti 13) | 2.5 |
| super nova | 2.5 |
| David ’06 | 2.0 |
| Lou ’06 | 2.0 |
| pttam7yanks | 2.0 |
| Bri’13 | 1.5 |
| CMM | 1.5 |
| EG’77 | 1.5 |
| Esto | 1.5 |
| FLM’33 | 1.5 |
| Mark A | 1.5 |
| mprams | 1.5 |
| Johnnyb1 | 1.0 |
| Loser Cruiser | 1.0 |
| MarkA | 1.0 |
| Matt | 1.0 |
| Muhley | 1.0 |
| Rich’09 | 1.0 |
| The Chameleon | 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 19 (Game Time). A total of 60 VUHoops readers posted predictions, none picking the Blue Demons to win. As a group, the readers see ‘Nova winning by a score of 75-63 (a margin of 12.0 points and implied over/under of 138). The Vegas odds makers also are picking ‘Nova to win by 12.0 points but set the over/under higher at 141.5 points, implying a final score of 77-65. KenPom.com’s model is predicting Nova to win by 15.0 points by a score of 80-65.
Scatter Plot of Predicted Scores
Window Opening: Thursday, February 17 (8:00 PM). The window is now open for readers to post their predicted final scores for ‘Nova’s game at DePaul on Saturday at 12 Noon (ET) in our Closest to the Pin Contest. After twenty-six rounds, Barney Rubble and Hugh Jass remain tied for the lead with 21.0 points. Click here to see our updated leader board. In our VUHoops vs. Vegas competition, VUHoops is up $600 for the season.
The #15 Cats (20-6, 8-5) have an RPI of 21, a SOS of 31, and are scoring an average of 74.1 PPG while giving up an average of 63.5 PPG. The Blue Demons (6-18, 0-12) are not ranked, have an RPI of 225, a SOS of 35, and are scoring an average of 67.9 PPG while giving up an average of 74.6.
The margin of defeat for DePaul’s twelve Big East losses are detailed below.  More statistical information about DePaul is available at Statsheet.com.
| OPPONENT | LOSING MARGIN |
| Cincinnati | -16 |
| Cincinnati | -3 |
| Connecticut | -20 |
| Georgetown | -11 |
| Louisville | -4 |
| Marquette | -30 |
| Notre Dame | -25 |
| Pittsburgh | -30 |
| Seton Hall | -11 |
| South Florida | -11 |
| West Virginia | -2 |
| West Virginia | -11 |
KenPom.com’s model is predicting Nova to win by 15.0 points by a score of 80-65.
Be sure to check out Brian’s game preview.
Special Note: When posting scores, please remember to list your predicted score for Villanova first, followed by the opponent’s score (e.g., ‘Nova 70 – DePaul 65).
