The No. 3-ranked Xavier Musketeers look to wrap up their excellent season and clinch the Big East conference title with a win vs the Providence Friars tonight. Xavier opened as an 11-point favorite in this matchup and has only lost four games this season.
- The visiting team is 1-8 SU in the last nine games in this matchup.
- Xavier is 14-1 SU in its last 15 games at home vs teams with winning records.
- The total has gone OVER in Xavier’s last three games at home.
Fortunately for the Friars, they handed the Musketeers one of those losses and also own a road win vs No. 2-ranked Villanova. Other than that, there hasn’t been much to celebrate for a Providence program that has 11 losses this season and is 9-7 in conference play. Guard Kyron Cartwright will be depended on to slice up Xavier’s defense again as he was unstoppable in the first meeting between these teams, notching 19 points and nine assists in a winning effort.
It’s senior night for Xavier and the Cintas Center will be rocking as fans cheer for senior Trevon Bluiett one last time on their court. Bluiett is one of the leading candidates for national player of the year and is averaging 19.2 points per game for the Musketeers. He has led Xavier to an excellent home record at 17-1 SU with the team’s only loss coming against Villanova on February 17. But the Musketeers haven’t been a reliable spread bet lately in this circumstance as Xavier is 0-5 ATS in its last five games when favored by 10 points or more.
The total opened at 156 and an OVER could be the profitable angle in this tilt. Xavier ranks eighth in the nation averaging 85.6 points per game and the total has gone OVER in five of the team’s last six games. When you factor in that the OVER has hit in three of the last four games in this matchup, an offensive explosion could be in store in Cincinnati.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
If you were backing the Providence Friars in this one, they were listed as 11-point underdogs earlier in the day at Sportsbook.
Providence Friars vs Xavier Musketeers Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The 25-4 and 20-9 ATS Xavier Musketeers will face the 18-11 Providence Friars, who own a 10-18 ATS mark on the season. In totals betting, the Musketeers are 17-12 on the OVER/UNDER so far this season while the Friars are 14-14.
According to new college basketball power rankings here at OddsShark, it's the No. 83-ranked Musketeers and the No. 129-rated Friars in this matchup.
Statistical Matchup
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and Xavier has the nation's No. 7-rated offensive output, at 85.24 PPG. The visiting Providence Friars defense ranks No. 153 allowing on average 72.9 PPG. The Musketeers' FG% has averaged 49.8% so far, more than the Friars marksmen have achieved on the year, 44.5% per game.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Friars got 19 points from Rodney Bullock as Providence ran past Georgetown University 74-69 on Saturday at Capital One Arena.
Xavier earned a 89-77 victory over Georgetown University on Wednesday, getting 21 points from Naji Marshall at Capital One Arena.
- Providence is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Providence's last 8 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Providence's last 7 games on the road
- Providence is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Xavier
- Xavier is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
- Xavier is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Xavier's last 6 games
- Xavier is 13-6 ATS in its last 19 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Providence home to St. John's, Saturday, March 3
Xavier at DePaul, Saturday, March 3
