Musketeers vs. Wildcats Prediction
The 10th-ranked Villanova Wildcats are at home today to begin Big East Conference play against the Xavier Musketeers. Is the projected total set high enough for this matchup?
Game Snapshot
725 Xavier Musketeers at 726 Villanova Wildcats
Monday, December 30, 2019
Finneran Pavilion at 6:30PM ET
TV: FS1
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According to oddsmakers, the Wildcats are a 6-point favorite on the spread line. The total is set at 139.5 points. As of Monday morning, 72 percent of public bets are siding with host Villanova. Check out our College Basketball Public Betting Page for the latest info.
Musketeers take down Horned Frogs
Xavier secured a 67-58 victory eight days ago at Texas Christian in the Big 12-Big East battle to improve to 11-2 overall and 1-1 on the road. The Musketeers led 38-27 at halftime en route to the win. Tyrique Jones paced Xavier with 18 points on 9-of-12 shooting to go with 14 rebounds and three steals. Paul Scruggs added 10 points, four boards and two assists.
Samuels lifts Wildcats past Jayhawks
Villanova downed previously top-ranked Kansas at home nine days ago by a score of 56-55 as Jermaine Samuels drained a go-ahead 3-pointer with 20.5 seconds remaining. The Wildcats (9-2, 5-0 home) outscored the Jayhawks 33-32 in the second half of the triumph. Samuels paced Villanova with 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting including 3-of-8 from 3-point range. He also pulled down five rebounds. Collin Gillespie added 12 points, three boards, two assists and two steals.
College Basketball Betting Trends
Xavier
The over is 4-0 ATS in the last four Musketeers games following an ATS win. The over is 3-1-1 in the last five Xavier games as a road underdog.
Villanova
The over is 11-3 in the last 14 Wildcats games as a favorite. The over is 7-3 in the last 10 Villanova home games.
Prediction:
The Wildcats have the seventh-ranked offense in the country in terms of adjusted offensive efficiency and I expect them to have a lot more success today than in the struggle versus Kansas where the defense shined. Last year’s matchup at Villanova ended in an 85-75 win for the Wildcats and I expect a lot of points again tonight.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL DAILY PREDICTION: XAVIER MUSKETEERS/VILLANOVA WILDCATS OVER 139.5