We have a Big East showdown on Saturday when the Connecticut Huskies visit the Xavier Musketeers. After a rough start to the conference schedule that saw Xavier lose four of its first five games, including an overtime thriller to UConn in mid-December, the Musketeers rattled off three straight wins ahead of Wednesday’s tilt with the Johnnies to improve to 4-4 in the Big East and 12-7 overall. This game also ends a stretch of three in a row against top 20 clubs that started with an upset of No. 7 Marquette last Saturday. UConn has been a money pit at the betting window lately going 2-6 ATS at the Bitcoin sportsbook in its last eight games. That run started when the Huskies failed to cover the 13.5-point closing line in a 94-89 overtime win over Xavier. The game tips at 8 p.m. ET from Cintas Center in Cincinnati, OH and will air on FOX.
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Connecticut Huskies
The Huskies certainly don’t lack confidence and it starts at the top with coach Dan Hurley. You can’t blame a coach for dogging the refs to try and get calls, but Hurley took the strategy to the next level when he claimed he was “the best coach in the f---ing sport” in a game against Butler. I’m not sure his ploy worked since his club committed eight more fouls and attempted 14 fewer free throws. However, UConn avoided a second straight home loss beating the Bulldogs, 80-78, in overtime.
With the win the two-time defending national champions improved to 14-5 overall, but they failed to cover the 13.5-point spread and they’ve been a losing bet on the line falling to 9-10 ATS. They were also laying 13.5-points in the first meeting with Xavier and needed overtime to secure a 94-89 victory. It was UConn’s fourth straight win in the series with a payout in three of them. Defensively the Huskies are solid allowing an average of 68.6 points. Three early season losses came when they surrendered 73 points or more.
UConn finds success behind one of the most efficient offenses in the country. They boast the eighth best rating according to KenPom thanks to making 49.4 percent of their field goals. Alex Karaban leads the club averaging 15.8 points and along with Solo Ball forms a formidable inside/outside duo. Ball averages 14.2 points and shoots better than 45 percent from three-point range. They aren’t as deep as the past champs, but contributions come from the entire roster.
Xavier Musketeers
After losing all three games to ranked foes earlier in the season, the Musketeers got the signature win beating Marquette on the road last week. They never trailed and extended their winning streak to three while going 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games. When they went through a difficult part of the schedule in late December the Musketeers did so without leading scorer and rebounder Zach Freemantle. It was a big setback as they lost to UConn in overtime and by a bucket to Marquette.
In five games since returning to the lineup Freemantle is averaging 16.4 points and 7.8 rebounds with a noticeable difference on the defensive end of the floor. Xavier held four opponents to less than 70 points and cashed the UNDER in three straight and in four of those five games. Freemantle had a double-double in the win over Marquette, which was more impressive since second leading scorer Ryan Conwell struggled. Conwell averages 16.5 points but had just six points on 3 of 13 shooting, including 0 of 8 on three-pointers.
Conwell picked up the scoring slack in the earlier meeting scoring 23 points on 9 of 13 shooting. Dante Maddox added 22 points making 5 of 9 three-pointers off the bench and Xavier shot 54.2 percent from deep to stay in the game. For the season the Musketeers shot just 33.4 percent from behind the arc and will have little chance of pulling off the upset if they can’t convert.
Connecticut at Xavier Same Game Parlay Picks
Connecticut ATS
Connecticut / Xavier OVER
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