The Villanova Wildcats will face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Sunday, November 1, 2026, in the Eternal City Tip-Off at the Palazzo dello Sport in Rome, Italy. The game tips off at 9:30 a.m. ET, a day before the official NCAA season start on November 2, after both programs received a waiver. The event coincides with All Saints' Day and honors Pope Leo XIV, a 1977 Villanova graduate.
Betting Odds
Villanova enters as a 7.5-point favorite according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The money line lists Villanova at -305 and Notre Dame at +245. The over/under for total points is set at 147.5, with the over at -108 and the under at -112.
Villanova Preview
Under first-year coach Kevin Willard, the Wildcats went 24-8 last season (15-5 Big East) but lost in the NCAA Tournament first round to Utah State. Four of the top five scorers from 2025-26 have departed, including Duke Brennan and Bryce Lindsay. Returning guard Tyler Perkins, the Big East Most Improved Player, averaged 13.7 points and 5.4 rebounds. Villanova adds 7-foot-3 Italian center Luigi Suigo, who averaged 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 18 minutes per game in Serbia last season and is projected as an NBA lottery pick. Other key transfers include Devin Royal (13.7 points, 5.7 rebounds at Ohio State), Jake Fiegen (17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds at Cornell), and Elijah Crawford (14.1 points, 4.9 assists at Illinois-Chicago). The Wildcats averaged 77.1 points and 34.2 rebounds per game last season.
Notre Dame Preview
Coach Micah Shrewsberry, 41-56 in three seasons, also overhauled his roster after a 13-18 campaign (4-14 ACC). The Irish lost top scorers Markus Burton (Indiana) and Jalen Haralson (Tennessee), accounting for nearly 35 points per game. New additions include Penn transfer Ethan Roberts (16.9 points, 40.4% from three), Braeden Shrewsberry (11.9 points, 40.2% from three), Gonzaga transfer Braeden Smith (5.1 points, 3.6 assists last season), Winthrop transfer Logan Duncomb (18.3 points per game), and Rutgers transfer Bryce Dortch for size. Notre Dame averaged 74.5 points and 36.6 rebounds last season.
Prediction
Despite both teams featuring largely new lineups, Villanova is considered the superior side, with Suigo providing a size advantage Notre Dame may struggle to match. The travel, novelty of playing in Rome, and weekend activities could suppress scoring. Villanova -7.5 is the recommended play, as Kevin Willard's team appears to hold all advantages in its quest to return to the NCAA Tournament.
