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The Butler Bulldogs have taken some major steps towards getting into the NCAA Tournament these last few weeks, but if they can find a way to take out the Xavier Musketeers in a game which they'll probably be favored in on Saturday, they'll firmly move into the field with just five regular season games to go.
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SCHEDULING
We'll talk a little bit more about the Creighton/Xavier game from Tuesday in a second, but needless to say, after the 70-56 loss, the X-Men needed a few days off. They had played four games in a row with just two days of rest, but now, they're going to have three full days to get ready for this one. We think we'll see a better version of the Musketeers on the court on Saturday than we've seen in recent games thanks to the rest, and live bettors should expect the same.
Butler is flying high after three straight wins and covers, and it comes into this one with two days off after punishing Seton Hall on Wednesday 81-75.
KEY MATCHUP
Kelan Martin really feels like the type of player built for Xavier. He's 6-foot-6, and though he's a little undersized for a power forward, he plays the position incredibly well, averaging 16.1 points and 6.4 boards per game even though he doesn't have all that much of an outside shot.
Just one problem. Martin doesn't play for Xavier. He plays for Butler.
Martin has been nuts of late, averaging 25.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in his last four, and he's really been the reason Butler has charged back from the middle of the NIT field to on the cusp of the NCAA Tournament.
If there's one thing Xavier has at its disposal though, it's men who are built just like Martin who play fantastic defense. Edmond Sumner, who leads the team in blocks in spite of his 6-foot-5 frame, is very likely to be an incredibly tough matchup for Martin, and watching those two battle it out in the post will be the key to live betting.
KEY STATS & TRENDS
The Musketeers aren't known for their three-point shooting, but they can't be anywhere near as bad as they were on Tuesday against Creighton. Xavier shot just 1-for-21 from beyond the arc in that game, the lowest mark for a Division I team with at least 20 three-point attempt in college basketball history.
Xavier's defense is also being called into question here. All of a sudden, the team has allowed 70, 82 and 83 pints in its last three games, and a team which was allowing teams to shoot under 40 percent from the field heading into the new year is now at 41.2 percent. If this defense doesn't get back to its standards, the Musketeers are going to look like the underdogs in this game instead of a team which has consistently been ranked in the Top 10 for a while now.
Butler has shot 52 percent from the field in its last three games from the field and a blistering 50 percent from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs aren't messing around thanks to the way Roosevelt Jones and Kellen Dunham are aiding Martin, and that's letting Andrew Chrabascz really focus on his defense in the paint. That's why the Dogs are having their day and why live bettors should be aware of their chances of winning this game on Saturday.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The matchup between the Xavier Musketeers and Butler Bulldogs will go down Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. ET at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The matchup will be televised live on FOX.
