The Wildcats have used a no-huddle spread system, not dissimilar to what Chip Kelly ran at Oregon. They try to play fast and look to establish the running game early and often, with receivers who have to be as comfortable blocking for the run as they are grabbing a pass.
2) What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Villanova defense?
This is definitely a run-stopping defense. The top teams that Villanova faces in the CAA (and in FCS generally) tend to have strong running games, so the system is built to slow or stop the ground game; and they have been traditionally very good at it.