Villanova March Madness odds: Collin Gillespie season-ending injury shifts Wildcats' futures odds longer to win 2021 NCAA Tournament

On Wednesday, 10th-ranked Villanova beat No. 14 Creighton 72-60 to clinch yet another Big East regular-season title and the top seed in next week's conference tournament, but it was a very bittersweet victory as Wildcats star senior point guard Collin Gillespie suffered a torn MCL and will miss the rest of the season. At William Hill Sportsbook, Villanova's odds to win the 2021 NCAA Tournament shifted from +1200 to +1600 and the SportsLine Projection Model also has altered the Wildcats' various chances in the Big Dance.

Gillespie, a senior, left Wednesday's game with 6 minutes, 38 seconds remaining in the first half after landing awkwardly and immediately grabbing at his left leg. It was pretty clearly a serious injury for those watching, and an MRI on Thursday confirmed the MCL tear.

"We are all devastated for Collin," Villanova head coach Jay Wright said in a statement. "He is the heart and soul of our program. We know we can't replace him."

Recently, the finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, which goes to the top point guard in college basketball, were announced and Gillespie was one of the five. He was averaging 14.0 points, 4.6 and 3.3 assists this season, his third year as a starter (key reserve on the 2017-18 national title team). He leads the Wildcats in assists, free-throw shooting and minutes played and is their best three-point shooter. Gillespie was the team leader on and off the court, so this is nothing short of devastating.

In theory, Gillespie could return next season because the NCAA is giving all players an extra year of eligibility if they want it due to the pandemic. Villanova closes the regular season Saturday at Providence – I'll be betting heavily on the Friars.

The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee – Selection Sunday is March 14 – will take player injuries into question. CBS Sports' Jerry Palm currently lists Villanova as a No. 3 seed in the Big Dance.

William Hill Sportsbook is quite exposed on Villanova to win the national title. Since Nov. 25, the Wildcats -- who were +2000 back then -- have taken five percent of all tickets sold to win the Big Dance and five percent of all money wagered. Those percentages are fifth- and fourth-most of any school, respectively.

The SportsLine Projection Model (see below) ranked Villanova as the 11th-best team in the country before this injury and now 14th. The Cats' chances of simply reaching the Sweet 16 dropped from 50.9 percent to 48.9 percent, the Final Four from 6.2 percent to 5.5, and the national title from 1.1 percent to 0.8.

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