The Xavier Musketeers will travel to PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, CT, to take on the #3 ranked Connecticut Huskies. This game is part of the Big East Conference. The Huskies are the favorites with a spread of -17.5, and Xavier is the underdog with a spread of +17.5. Xavier has had a challenging season with a 12-10 overall record. They are looking to improve their away record, which stands at 1-6. On the other hand, Connecticut boasts a 21-1 record and a strong home performance of 12-1. Fans can catch the game live on PEAC at 7:00 PM ET.
Xavier Musketeers Team Preview
The Xavier Musketeers have played three recent games. They won against DePaul by 2 points, scoring 68 points. However, they lost to Seton Hall by 18 points and to St. John’s by 5 points.
Tre Carroll has been a key player for the Musketeers. In the game against St. John’s, he scored 31 points. He also contributed 22 points against Seton Hall.
This season, Xavier’s record is 12-10. Their performance on the road has been challenging with a 1-6 record. In their conference, they rank in the Big East.
Connecticut Huskies Team Preview
The Connecticut Huskies are having a strong season with a 21-1 record. They are ranked third in the AP poll and are part of the Big East conference. At home, their record stands at 12-1.
In recent games, the Huskies had a convincing win against the Creighton Bluejays with a score of 85-58. Alex Karaban and Silas Demary Jr. each scored 15 points in that game. Against the Providence Friars, Tarris Reed Jr. led with 19 points, helping the Huskies win 87-81.
The Huskies score an average of 79 points per game. They rank 42nd in field goal percentage at 48.4%. On defense, they average 7.5 steals and 5.5 blocks per game.
Betting Prediction
Xavier is getting a +17.5-point spread against Connecticut. This large spread makes Xavier an attractive pick. Connecticut has struggled against the spread, with a record of 7-15 this season.
Xavier has a good record against the spread as an underdog. They are 8-4 when not favored to win. This shows they often perform better than expected in these situations.
Connecticut is strong when it comes to winning games straight up. However, their ability to cover the spread is not as strong. This makes taking the points with Xavier a sensible option.
- Pick: Xavier +17.5
