Butler Bulldogs vs Xavier Musketeers Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 03/04/2023

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Saturday, March 4, 2023

Venue:  Cintas Center, Cincinnati, OH 

Where to Watch:  Fox Sports 1

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Butler +13.5, Xavier -13.5; Over/Under:  142.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Butler +13.5, Xavier -13.5; Over/Under:  142.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Butler +13.5, Xavier -13.5; Over/Under:  142.5 points

Butler Bulldogs:  14-16 (6-13) (9th place, Big East)

Xavier Musketeers:  22-8 (14-5) (2nd place, Big East)

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Butler Bulldogs:  2-3  last 5

Xavier Musketeers:  3-2  last 5

Butler is coming into this game with a 14-16 record overall and they are 3-8 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are also 6-13 in their conference games this season as well. They are entering this game off of a loss against the Marquette Golden Eagles in their last game. Jayden Taylor led the team in points in that game with 13 while Jalen Thomas was next on the team with 10 points. Simas Lukosius and Myles Tate each led the team in assists in that game with 3 while Jalen Thomas led the team in rebounds with 8. They were 39.2% from the field, 31.6% from 3-point range, and 71.4% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 65.3 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 67.3 PPG against them. Butler has an ATS record of 13-15-2 this season and their O/U record is 8-20-2.

Xavier is coming into this game with a 22-8 record overall and they are 14-2 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are also 14-5 in their conference schedule this season as well. They are entering this game on a 2 game winning streak with wins coming against the Seton Hall Pirates and the Providence Friars in their last game. Souley Boum led the team in points in that game with 33 while Colby Jones was next on the team with 29 points. Souley Boum and Colby Jones each led the team in assists in that game with 4 while Colby Jones led the team in rebounds with 9. They were 55.7% from the field, 50% from 3-point range, and 80% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 82.3 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 74.8 PPG against them. Xavier has an ATS record of 17-12-1 this season and their O/U record is 19-10-1.

The current betting odds have Xavier listed as a 13.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Xavier enters this game as a ranked team with their 22-8 record overall and they have been starting to get really hot again in their games lately with some upset wins. They have been one of the best teams in the Big East all season with their 14-5 conference record and they have been a really good home team too with their 14-2 home record. They also have some momentum on their side with 2 wins in a row now and an upset win over Providence in their last game, handing Providence their 1st home loss of the season. Butler has been the complete opposite this season with a losing 14-16 record overall and they have been one of the worst teams in the Big East with their 6-13 conference record. They have also been terrible in their road games with a 3-8 road record and they just took a really bad loss to Marquette in their last game as they have been getting blown out by ranked teams in their conference all year. The best way to place a bet here is on Xavier to cover the spread in this game. 

Butler Xavier Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Saturday, March 4, 2023 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Xavier 78 Butler 58.

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Butler Bulldogs: 4-13 ATS as an underdog. 7-12 ATS when the total is 140 to 149.5. 12-1 UNDER when the total is 140 to 149.5.

Xavier Musketeers: 11-6 ATS after one or more consecutive overs. 51-27 ATS off an upset win as an underdog. 8-2 UNDER after allowing 85 points or more.

Butler Bulldogs:  A. Ali (G) Ques Sat - Concussion. J. Mulloy (F) Out indefinitely - Ankle.

Xavier Musketeers:  K. Tandy (G) Ques Sat - Foot. K. Craft (G) Mid March - Knee. Z. Freemantle (F) Early March - Foot.

“To me, he’s the MVP of the Big East. He makes that team go. He’s such an intelligent basketball player. He’s got a great pulse on that team. It looks like they really feed off him, and he embraces that leadership.” - Thad Matta on Tyler Kolek after his team’s loss against Marquette in their last game. 

“Sometimes you have to acknowledge that you won because of a player or two players. We won tonight because Souley Boum and Colby Jones were outstanding. Souley Boum was as good as any guard in the country tonight. Colby was right there with him. In large part that’s why we won.” - Sean Miller after his team’s win against Providence in their last game. 

M. Bates 

C. Harris 

E. Hunter 

S. Lukosius 

J. Taylor

S. Boum 

Z. Freemantle 

C. Jones 

A. Kunkel 

J. Nunge

PPG: J. Taylor (13.1)

APG: S. Lukosius (2.9)

Reb/G: M. Bates (5.6)

PPG: S. Boum (17)

APG: C. Jones (4.6)

Reb/G: Z. Freemantle (8.1)

Coaches:

Butler Bulldogs: Thad Matta (1st season)

Xavier Musketeers: Sean Miller (1st season)