Villanova vs. Xavier Prediction
Top-25 opponents from the Big East clash at Cintas Center in Cincinnati, OH where No. 17 Xavier will host No. 14 Villanova at 6:30 p.m. ET. Are the Musketeers a risky play as a small home favorite or will Xavier come through for bettors?
Game Snapshot
685 Villanova Wildcats (+1) at 686 Xavier Musketeers (-1); o/u 140.5
6:30 p.m. ET, Cintas Center, Cincinnati, OH
TV: FS1
Villanova Wildcats DFS Snapshot
Justin Moore closed with 21 points (5-10 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 8-9 FT), seven rebounds, three assists and one steal in 32 minutes during Saturday’s 79-64 win over DePaul. Moore was dealing with a hamstring issue, but it appeared to be a non-factor Saturday. His is now averaging 18.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 three-pointers, and 1.5 steals over the last four games.
Xavier Musketeers DFS Snapshot
Paul Scruggs posted 16 points (3-7 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 9-9 FT), seven rebounds, six assists, one block and one steal over 36 minutes during Friday’s 87-72 victory over Butler. Scruggs logged a season-high amount of free throw attempts and went perfect from the stripe, displaying a frosty resolve in tough situations. The guard made a brilliant play in the first two minutes of the game by blocking a Jayden Taylor trey and feeding Zach Freemantle off the rebound to open the scoring for Xavier. He immediately followed it up with a score-evening three-pointer and played the first half like his hair was on fire. He eclipsed five rebounds and five assists for the second time this season and will look to continue to stuff the stat sheet against Villanova on Wednesday.
College Basketball Betting Prediction
The favorite is 14-4 against the spread in the last 18 meetings between these two teams, while the home side has cashed in nine of the previous 13 meetings. Xavier is also 7-1 against the spread in its last eight home games, is 7-2 against the number in its last nine games overall and is 8-3 at the betting window in its last 11 games when facing an opponent with a winning record.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL BETTING PREDICTION: XAVIER MUSKETEERS -1
