Villanova opens season in Rome

Villanova and Notre Dame will open the 2026-27 college basketball season with a matchup in Rome, Italy. The game takes place at the Palazzo dello Sport with tipoff scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday. This early start in the Eastern Time Zone serves as the kickoff for the national season because no NFL international games are on the schedule for that week.

The two teams enter the contest with contrasting recent histories. Notre Dame finished last season with a 13-18 record under coach Micah Shrewsberry, who is in his fourth year. The Fighting Irish have not made the NCAA Tournament since his arrival. Villanova is in its second year under coach Kevin Williard. The Wildcats qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2026, marking a return to the postseason for the program.

Betting markets currently list Villanova as a 7.5-point favorite. The over/under total for the game is set at 148.5 points. Eric Cohen, a sports analyst for SportsLine, projects that the total will be under that number. He cited the defensive inefficiency of both squads during the previous campaign as a primary factor.

Villanova allowed 71.2 points per game last year, the highest average for the program since the 2010-11 season. Notre Dame fared worse on defense, surrendering 75.3 points per game. Cohen noted that these numbers suggest both teams struggled to contain opponents. He told SportsLine, "Both teams weren't exactly proficient on the defensive end last season, especially Notre Dame who gave up 75.3 points per game."

Transfers will shape the rosters for both teams. Villanova signed six new players to its roster. Notre Dame added Braeden Smith and Ethan Roberts, who are expected to be key contributors. Cohen believes that the physical toll of traveling to Europe may further impact performance. He stated, "But the travel to Rome and body clock issues from traveling to Europe might affect the teams so I'll lean Under."

Cohen entered the 2026 season with a record of 79-68 in college basketball predictions, yielding a return of plus 579 units. He has been a fixture on SportsLine programming since joining the company in 2022. The analyst previously worked as a sports radio host and TV analyst in Phoenix.