The Xavier Musketeers shook off a mid-conference lull and have played well enough of late to stay in the conversation for the regular season Big East title. If they can pull that off a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament is possible. The Butler Bulldogs are also jockeying for March Madness and conference positioning and get to host Xavier this week.
This should be a competitive game and will have big ramifications for both sides. Xavier has been the better team this season but playing on the road is never easy. This is the type of game that could go either way, as either side could be a slight favorite depending on how the oddsmakers gauge the matchup.
At 6:30 p.m. ET, tune into FS1 for live television coverage of this NCAA basketball game on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at the Hinkle Fieldhouse.
We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Tuesday schedule.
Odds Analysis
Xavier is 21-3 straight up and 16-8 against the spread. The Musketeers have covered in five of seven games on the road this season. Xavier has only been the underdog in three games this season, covering in two of those contests.
Butler is 17-7 straight up and 13-10 against the spread. The Bulldogs have been very good at home, covering in 10 of their 12 contests. Butler has covered in 10 of 15 attempts as the favorite on the year.
Key Stat
12. That’s the smallest margin of victory for Butler in its current four-game winning streak, as it has done a nice job knocking off conference foes with ease. The Bulldogs started this streak with 79-67 win over DePaul and has just gotten better as it has gone along.
Butler downed Saint John’s by 25 points on Jan. 27 and then beat Marquette, 92-72, four days later. The Bulldogs rocked DePaul again last time out as they will head into this matchup riding high.
Butler has bounced back after a recent stretch losing three straight games and four of five. The Bulldogs have faced a tough schedule in conference but have been able to weather the storm. Continuing their win streak in this one would be a boon.
Player To Watch
Trevon Bluiett — Xavier has put together a great season thus far and much of that has been due to the standout season by its senior guard. Bluiett is having one of the best seasons of any individual player in college, averaging 19.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest.
Bluiett has averaged in double figures in all four years of his impressive college career and is wrapping it up with his best showing. Bluiett is shooting 45.6 percent from three-point range and 42.4 percent from three-point range.
He had a great game last time out in an overtime win over Georgetown, pouring in 31 points on 9-of-16 shooting while adding six three-pointers on 10 attempts. Bluiett added four rebounds and three assists in the game.
Butler must do a good job of keeping him under control and making others carry Xavier.
Free NCAA Men’s Basketball ATS Picks
The Musketeers still have a chance to catch Villanova for first place in the conference, but must be perfect down the stretch. Butler will help spoil those chances in this one. The Musketeers are a slightly better team but the location of this game helps even out the odds.
Take Butler to win a game that goes right down to the wire. Xavier could be the right call on the spread if the Bulldogs are given a few points. This is a critical game for both teams and look for Butler to come away with a huge win.
NCAA Men’s Basketball Odds: Butler 78, Xavier 77
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