NCAAB #10 Marquette at #21 UConn Betting Preview
Golden Eagles Go For Six Straight
The Golden Eagles are establishing themselves as one of the best teams in the country, winners of 10 of 11 heading into Tuesday’s Marquette at UConn betting matchup. The Huskies have won three of four though, and were once up to #2 in the country setting up a huge Big East duel on Tuesday night.
A slight 53% of the betting public likes Connecticut even giving the -4.5 points in this spot. The Huskies are 11-2 at home this season, but two of those losses have come in the last three games. Marquette also picked up an 82-76 home win over UConn on January 11th as +2 point underdogs, finally snapping a four game losing streak in the head to head series.
Why Marquette Can Cover +4.5 Points
The biggest reason Marquette could cover the +4.5 points on Tuesday night is because it wouldn’t have been a shocker if they were even favored here. The Golden Eagles are hot, winners of five straight and 9 of their last 10. One of those victories over that span was against UConn on January 11th when the Huskies were up to #6 in the country.
Marquette is a decent 5-3 on the road and even though Connecticut is 11-2 at home, the Huskies have also just lost 82-79 on their own court to Xavier on January 25th as a -6 point favorite and 85-74 to St. John’s a month ago with a whopping -14.5 line.
The Golden Eagles have one of the best offenses in the nation, ranking 19th at 81.3 ppg but hitting 50% of their shots from the field which is in the top five. Three Marquette players had at least 15 points in the first meeting with UConn as they hit 30-59 of their shots (51%).
Why UConn Can Cover -4.5 Points
The main reason to take the Huskies in the Marquette at UConn betting matchup would be the line itself, as their is something fishy about Connecticut giving -4.5 points to a red hot Marquette team. Public betting doesn’t represent it, but you’d have to think the Golden Eagles getting the points would be a very popular play just like Monday night’s Duke loss.
Marquette can definitely score (81.3 ppg) but UConn’s offense is no slouch either ranking 30th in the nation at 79.3 ppg. The Golden Eagles are 4th in the nation in offensive efficiency and Connecticut 10th, but the big difference here could be (aside from home court) the Huskies ranking 20th in defensive efficiency compared to 54th for Marquette.
Going back to the line, the fact that UConn is giving -4.5 points despite their last three wins all coming as at least a -11 point favorite could be a tell. The Huskies had lost five of six heading into some meetings with overmatched teams which looks like a false padding of their record.
Free Marquette at UConn Betting Pick
Everything is saying to take Marquette here but the line is pointing at a big UConn win. The favorite has covered in five of the last six head to head meetings between these two teams which doesn’t hurt matters either.
Free Pick: UConn -4.5
