DePaul vs. Xavier Pick
Can No. 6 Xavier cruise to a big win at home when it faces DePaul at 2PM ET in Big East play?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Xavier is the clear favorite in this game, as the Musketeers are getting odds of -14.5 points against DePaul. The over/under total for the game is listed at 153.5 points. Today’s game takes place from Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio and will air live on FS1.
Xavier is now on an 8-game winning streak entering today’s contest. That includes a big 91-87 win at Marquette earlier this week to open conference play. Xavier is an impressive 11-3 against the spread on the season, having covered in their last three games. Xavier is averaging 87.2 points per game on offense this year while giving up 71.1 per game on defense. Trevon Bluiett is leading Xavier with 20 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. J.P Macura is adding 12.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
DePaul is coming off a 103-85 loss to Villanova earlier this week to start Big East play. The Blue Demons have lost two of their last three to fall to 7-6 on the season. They are 7-6 against the spread this season and have covered in six of their last nine games. DePaul is putting up 74.9 points per game this season while allowing 70.5 per game. Max Strus is leading the team with 17.5 points per game while Marin Maric is adding 13 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest.
Xavier has won six straight meetings with DePaul, covering the spread in five of those six meetings. I had my doubts about Xavier, but the Musketeers showed me a lot in the win at Marquette. Bluiett is a great player that can find himself in the Player of the Year discussion if he continues at this pace. I don’t expect a letdown at home against a lesser opponent today. The public betting is strongly with Xavier and I agree.
CBB DAILY PREDICTION: XAVIER -14.5