Welsh-Ryan Arena will host Northwestern Wildcats vs. Butler Bulldogs action on Saturday as both teams try to pay off for bettors in NCAA basketball betting action.

Supporters of the Bulldogs have watched them go 6-2 and 4-3 ATS on the year, while the Wildcats are at 7-2 and 4-2 ATS. In totals betting, the Wildcats are 3-1, while the Bulldogs have a 4-2 mark.



View Butler vs Northwestern Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Bettors looking to go with the Wildcats in this one found them listed as 5-point favorites earlier on the NCAA basketball betting menu for Monday's contest. Check for updates as money coming in on the Bulldogs was expected to move the line.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
It's a betting matchup between the No. 113-rated Wildcats and the No. 22-ranked Bulldogs, according to the latest pro hoops power rankings here at Odds Shark. Prediction formulas run on this game indicate a possible 76-74 result in favor of the Wildcats.



How They Match Up:
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and Northwestern has the nation's No. 186-rated offensive output, at 67.9 PPG. The visiting Bulldogs defense ranks No. 159 allowing on average 65.2 PPG. The Wildcats FG% has averaged 43.5% so far, less than the Bulldogs marksmen have achieved on the year, 46% per game.

Defensively, Butler features the nation's No. 183-rated defense on the road, allowing 70.5 points per game. Northwestern, meanwhile, comes in at No. 251 nationally in scoring at home.

In their last action, Butler was an 87-55 Sportsbook at home against IUPUI. They covered the 20.5-point spread as favorites. The battle between the Bulldogs and Jaguars didn’t turn out to be much of a battle at all as IUPUI was handed an 87-55 defeat on Wednesday at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Last time out for Northwestern, they were a 74-70 Sportsbook as they battled Baylor on the road. They covered in the match as a 10-point underdog. Drew Crawford scored 19 points leading the Wildcats to a 74-70 victory over Baylor at Ferrell Center on Tuesday.


Butler Bulldogs Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 7-3
Before playing Indiana are 5-1
After playing IUPUI are 3-0
After a win are 5-5

Northwestern Wildcats Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 2-8
After playing Baylor are 1-0
After a win are 5-5

A few Bulldogs at Wildcats trends to consider:
Northwestern is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
Northwestern is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games at home


Next up:
Butler at Indiana, Saturday, December 15
Northwestern home to Texas State, Monday, December 17