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The Villanova Wildcats of the Big East will open their 2026-27 college basketball season against the ACC’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Eternal City Tip-Off. The game takes place on Sunday, Nov. 1, in Rome, Italy, after the teams secured an NCAA waiver to begin play a day ahead of the official start date. According to CBS Sports Headlines, the matchup is scheduled to honor Pope Leo XIV, a 1977 Villanova graduate, and coincides with All Saints’ Day. The action begins at 9:30 a.m. ET at the Palazzo dello Sport, with DraftKings Sportsbook installing the Wildcats as 7.5-point favorites and an Over/Under set at 147.5 points.
Villanova Preview and Roster Changes
The Wildcats finished last season with a 24-8 record, including 15-5 in the Big East, under coach Kevin Willard in his first year at the helm. Following a first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Utah State and significant roster turnover that departs four of their top five scorers, guard Tyler Perkins returns to lead the offense after averaging 13.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season.
Villanova adds 7-foot-3 Italian center Luigi Suigo, a projected NBA lottery pick who averaged 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in Serbia last season. Additional newcomers include Devin Royal from Ohio State, Jake Fiegen from Cornell, and Elijah Crawford from Illinois-Chicago. Last season, the Wildcats averaged 77.1 points and 34.2 rebounds per game.
Notre Dame Offseason Rebuild
Notre Dame enters the new campaign with a heavily revamped roster under coach Micah Shrewsberry following a 13-18 season. With top scorers Markus Burton and Jalen Haralson departing via the transfer portal, the Fighting Irish added former Penn sharpshooter Ethan Roberts, Braeden Shrewsberry, and veteran point guard Braeden Smith from Gonzaga. The program also brings in reigning Big South Player of the Year Logan Duncomb from Winthrop and Bryce Dortch from Rutgers to bolster a squad that averaged 74.5 points and 36.6 rebounds last season.
Betting Picks and Prediction
Analysts project Villanova to cover the 7.5-point spread, citing Luigi Suigo’s size advantage that Notre Dame will struggle to match. While travel, weekend activities, and the novelty of playing in Rome could impact early shooting rhythm, the Wildcats hold the distinct personnel advantages needed to secure the victory and start their journey back to the NCAA Tournament.
