Villanova Wildcats vs. Xavier Musketeers: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/21/2023

Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Cintas Center, Cincinnati, OH

Where to watch: FS1

DraftKings: Xavier -5.5

FanDuel: Xavier -5.5

BetMGM: Xavier -5.5

Caesars: Xavier -5.5

Villanova: 13-14 (7-9 Big East)

No. 16 Xavier: 20-7 (12-4 Big East) 

February is here and the college basketball season is taking full shape. Conference races still to be determined, the top 25 completely in shambles for what seems like every week, and there's bound to be an upset what seems like every single week. But as the season continues to progress with what seems like exciting action every week, you know our champion handicappers continue to put the work in each and every week to not only make money for them, but to ensure you get money in your pocket. All you need to do is look at the last 30 days. Scott Rickenbach has reeled in a net profit of $14,000 with a 24-9-0 run on the college hardwood. Team Del Genio has killed it with a 13-1-0 run at +$11,900. Will Rogers (28-15-0) and Matt Fargo (40-27-0) have also seen five figures over the last 30 days with college basketball. Surely, you want to get on this winning as well. All you need to do is go to bigal.com, check out our Best Bets page and make sure you are following along on the action. March will be here before you know it! Take advantage of our best plays and find out what our champion handicappers are doing at bigal.com!

The two road losses last week at Marquette and Butler put a damper on what’s been an otherwise strong season for the Xavier Musketeers. They’re still very much alive to capture the Big East regular season title, but they are now in a cluster in second place and need some help. The No. 16 Musketeers will try to win a second straight game Tuesday when they host the Villanova Wildcats at Cintas Center.

Xavier lost two games by a combined three points before returning home on Saturday to beat DePaul 82-68 in a return to their offensive form after being held to below 70 points in the losses to the Bulldogs and Golden Eagles. That loss to Marquette is now the reason why Xavier is looking up at first-place Marquette.

Jack Nunge finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead Xavier, who had all five starters scoring in double figures. Adam Kunkel had 16 points and eight assists, and Jerome Hunter finished a rebound shy of a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds. Xavier outrebounded DePaul 41-33 and forced 15 Blue Demon turnovers.

“I don't make light of winning 20 regular-season games,” Xavier coach Sean Miller said after his team reached the mark for the 34th time in school history. “It is not easy, especially in a conference like the Big East .... and in our case, the non-conference schedule that we played.”

Any game going forward for Xavier, should they want to be in the running for the Big East title, is paramount. After this game against Villanova they have two tough road games at Seton Hall and No. 24 Providence. At least they have the split of the season series with Marquette in the event the Golden Eagles falter, but being in that three-way cluster with Providence and Creighton is going to make for an intriguing run down the stretch.

Villanova’s struggle of a season is nearing its end. After winning three in a row and bringing some semblance of pride, the Wildcats lost 85-72 to the Friars on Saturday and dropped to 7-9 in conference play. At 13-14, any chance for them to return to the NCAA Tournament rests on winning the conference tournament.

Eric Dixon had a team-high 18 points and and eight rebounds for the Wildcats, who shot just 40 percent from the floor and were held to 8 of 29 from 3-point range. Villanova also sent Providence to the free-throw line 32 times, where they made 24. Justin Moore added 17 points but shot 5 of 13 to get there. Villanova ended up taking the lead in the second half but was countered by a 14-4 Providence run. Such is life this time around with Villanova, who is 1.5 games back of Seton Hall for sixth place.

Villanova still has Creighton, Seton Hall and UConn remaining on their schedule. Not really murderer’s row, but still pretty daunting.

Xavier has covered three of its last four and I’d expect the number to be around the area of 6.5 to 13, where they were favored last week. The Musketeers will thrive off the homecourt advantage and continue to keep pace in a crowded Big East. Xavier 79, Villanova 65

Villanova is 2-10 ATS off an over this season.

Villanova is 135-89 ATS after failing to cover 2 of 3 since 1997.

Xavier is 1-9 ATS on Tuesday games the last 3 seasons.

Xavier is 20-30 ATS against conference opponents the last 3 seasons.

PG: Justin Moore

SG: Caleb Daniels

SF: Cam Whitmore

PF: Brandon Slater

C: Eric Dixon

PG: Souley Boum

SG: Adam Kunkel

SF: Colby Jones

PF: Jerome Hunter

C: Jack Nunge