The Connecticut Huskies (16-5 SU, 13-8 ATS) are 16-1 SU and 10-6-1 ATS in their last 17 home games. The Huskies will try to continue their dominance at home with a win over the Xavier Musketeers (16-4, 11-8-1) on Wednesday night in Mansfield, Connecticut.
The home team is 3-0 SU and ATS in the last three meetings between UConn and Xavier with the Musketeers coming out on top in two of those three games. The OVER is 15-5 in Xavier’s last 20 games, 12-6 in Connecticut’s last 18 and 4-1 in the last five games between the two squads.
Latest Betting Notes: Xavier
The Musketeers failed to cover the spread as 17-point favorites but still won comfortably in a 95-82 victory at home against the Georgetown Hoyas on Saturday. Zach Freemantle tied his career high in scoring with 30 points and also recorded 11 rebounds in the win. This was a bounce-back effort for Xavier coming off a disappointing 73-72 loss on the road to the DePaul Blue Demons as an 8.5-point road favorite.
Prior to going 1-1 SU and 0-2 ATS over its last two games, Xavier was 11-0 SU and 8-3 ATS in its previous 11 games, including 5-0 ATS in its previous five. The Musketeers are 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS in their last three games as an underdog as well.
Latest Betting Notes: Connecticut
The Huskies jumped out to a 45-23 lead by halftime and rolled to an 86-56 blowout win on Sunday at home over the Butler Bulldogs. Jordan Hawkins led the team in scoring with 20 points and Adama Sanogo recorded a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Sanogo is leading the Huskies with 17.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
The victory over Butler helped the Huskies snap out of a 1-5 SU and ATS slump. The Huskies climbed to No. 2 in the AP Top 25 Poll by the end of December with a 14-0 SU and 11-3 ATS start to the season, but this recent skid has knocked UConn down to No. 19 in the latest poll.
The Keys to Victory: Xavier
Xavier’s offense has been electric with four different players averaging over 14 points per game, leading the team to 84.1 points per game, which ranks ninth in the nation. That elite offense has helped offset a porous defense that rates 326th in the country, allowing 75.4 points per game.
The Musketeers have been held under 80 points in three of their four losses this season and have scored 80 points or more in all but three of their 16 wins. Keeping things close or winning outright will come by pushing the tempo and producing on offense on the road.
The Keys to Victory: Connecticut
UConn is one of the nation’s most well-rounded teams, ranking 39th by scoring 79.3 points per game and 37th in allowing 63.5 points per game. On most nights, the Huskies can win on either end of the court.
Facing an offense as good as Xavier’s, however, the Huskies should try to slow things down and focus on defense. Winning outright in a high-scoring game on Wednesday night is certainly possible, but winning comfortably enough to cover the spread will likely only happen if the Huskies are in top form on defense.
