The 2026-27 college basketball season begins with an early Sunday matchup between Villanova and Notre Dame at Palazzo dello Sport in Rome, Italy. Tipoff is set for 9:30 a.m. ET.
Villanova enters as a 7.5-point favorite with an over/under of 147.5 points. The Wildcats are listed at -325 on the money line, while Notre Dame is +260.
Notre Dame finished 13-18 last season and has yet to reach the NCAA Tournament under head coach Micah Shrewsberry, now in his fourth year. Villanova, under second-year coach Kevin Willard, made the tournament in 2026.
Both teams have undergone significant roster turnover. Notre Dame added transfers Braeden Smith and Ethan Roberts, while Villanova brought in six transfers. Defensively, Villanova allowed 71.2 points per game last season, the most since 2010-11, and Notre Dame gave up 75.3 points per game.
SportsLine analyst Eric Cohen, who posted a 79-68 record (+579) in college basketball last season, leans toward the under on the total (148.5 points). Cohen cited travel and body-clock adjustments as factors that could suppress scoring.
The game will be streamed on Fubo.
