Xavier vs. Butler Prediction
No. 22 Xavier is a 5.5-point road favorite on Friday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN where it will take on Butler at 8:30 p.m. ET. Given the Bulldogs’ issues against the spread this season, will the Musketeers come through for bettors as road chalk?
Game Snapshot
883 Xavier Musketeers (-5.5) at 884 Butler Bulldogs (+5.5); o/u 130.5
8:30 p.m. ET, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
TV: N/A
Xavier Musketeers DFS Snapshot
Xavier missed its first four shots and committed five turnovers to start the second half, helping Villanova close within 39-37 on a Daniels 3-pointer. And the Wildcats took their first lead since early in the contest on Dixon’s layup that made it 42-41 with 14:02 to play. The game stayed tight for the next 7 ½ minutes, and Jack Nunge layup put Xavier in front 51-49 with 7:29 to play. But Villanova took over from there.
Butler Bulldogs DFS Snapshot
Bryce Golden scored 20 points for Butler (8-5, 1-1), and fellow big man Bryce Nze added 12 points in the Bulldogs’ 71-56 loss to Seton Hall. The Bulldogs were outrebounded 36-25 even though Seton Hall played without Tyrese Samuel, who averages 10.8 points and 6.9 boards. Seton Hall fell behind 16-9 early but responded with a 15-2 run. The Pirates led 34-26 at halftime and controlled the second half, making timely shots each time the announced crowd of 7,234 began to get noisy.
College Basketball Betting Prediction
The road team is 4-1 against the spread in the last five meetings between these two teams, while the Musketeers are 9-3 against the number in their last 12 games overall and 7-3 at the betting window in their last 10 games versus a team with a winning record. On the other side, the Bulldogs are just 3-7 against the spread in their last 10 games overall, are 2-5 against the number in their last seven home games and are 2-6 at the betting window in their last eight games versus an opponent with a winning record.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL BETTING PREDICTION: XAVIER MUSKETEERS -5.5
