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College Basketball

Xavier Musketeers vs. UConn Huskies Predictions, Picks, Odds

Daniel Dobish
Daniel Dobish Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read

The Xavier Musketeers (17-8, 7-7 Big East) travel to meet the Connecticut Huskies (18-7, 9-5) for a Big East conference battle at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn. on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on FOX.

SCORE PREDICTION

UConn 72, Xavier 68

BEST BETS

Xavier +6.5 (-110) at William Hill

XAVIER MUSKETEERS VS. UCONN HUSKIES PREDICTIONS

The Musketeers are in a bit of a swoon lately, coming off a 13-point beatdown at the hands of the St. John's Red Storm. In addition to that 86-73 setback, Xavier has lost three of its past four games overall, while going just 3-8 ATS in the previous 11 games.

Offense hasn't really been an issue for Xavier, scoring 71 or more points in each of the past three, but defensively it has had lapses, including a season-high 86 points allowed last time out against SJU.

The one win Xavier has in the past four games, however, came against UConn on Feb. 11 at Cintas Center in Cincinnati, covering a one-point number as the OVER hit. UConn bounced back with a pair of wins, but it hasn't covered in three outings, while the Huskies are 1-6 ATS across the past seven contests overall.

XAVIER MUSKETEERS VS. UCONN HUSKIES BETTING ODDS

  • Xavier +225
  • UConn -280
  • Xavier +6.5 (-110)
  • UConn -6.5 (-110)
  • Over 139.5 (-110)
  • Under 139.5 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

XAVIER MUSKETEERS VS. UCONN HUSKIES BETTING RESOURCES

  • Matchup: Big East
  • Date: Saturday, February 19, 2022
  • Venue: Gampel Pavilion
  • Location: Storrs, Connecticut
  • TV-Time: FOX - 12:00 p.m. ET

XAVIER MUSKETEERS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 17-8
  • ATS: 13-12
  • O/U: 11-13-1

The Musketeers have dropped three of the past four games, while going 2-3 ATS across the five games overall. After opening the season 9-2 ATS, Xavier has struggled mightily against the number with a 4-10 ATS mark across the past 14 games overall. However, one of those covers, in fact the most recent win and cover, was against UConn on Feb. 11.

Xavier has posted a 5-2 ATS mark across the past seven games after a straight-up loss, however, but they're just 2-5 ATS in the past seven games following a non-cover, while managing a 3-7 ATS mark in the previous 10 against winning teams.

For the Musketeers, the OVER is 4-1 in the past five games overall, but the UNDER is just 5-1 in the past six following a non-cover.

One thing to pay close attention to is the health of Nate Johnson (knee), who hasn't played since the UConn win Feb. 11 due to a knee issue. He is questionable to play Saturday. Johnson is the fourth-highest scorer with 9.8 PPG, while posting 2.6 RPG, 1.0 APG and a 39.4 3P%, which actually leads the team.

UCONN HUSKIES BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 18-7
  • ATS: 11-14
  • O/U: 16-9

In this series, we've had three meetings since Nov. 22, 2019, with Xavier holding a 2-1 SU edge, with UConn going 2-1 ATS. The OVER has connected in each of the previous three meetings, too.

UConn has failed to cover each of the past three outings, while going 1-6 ATS in the past seven games overall. The UNDER has hit in each of the past two, also.

The Huskies are 1-4 ATS in the past five following a non-cover, and 0-4 ATS in the previous four after a SU win. For totals, the OVER is still 9-4 in the past 13 games overall despite the UNDER in the past two, while going 25-10 in the past 35 at home.


The Musketeers have covered just three of the past 11 games overall. (AP)

INSIDE THE STATS - XAVIER MUSKETEERS

  • Record: 17-8
  • PS/G: 73.1 (133rd)
  • PA/G: 65.9 (84th)
  • ORtg: 105.5 (124th)
  • DRtg: 95.2 (71st)

INSIDE THE STATS - UCONN HUSKIES

  • Record: 18-7
  • PS/G: 76.7 (56th)
  • PA/G: 65.2 (68th)
  • ORtg: 108.5 (51st)
  • DRtg: 92.3 (30th)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • XAV: Jack Nunge - F (13.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 54.0 FG%)
  • XAV: Paul Scruggs - G (12.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.5 SPG)
  • CONN: R.J. Cole - G (16.2 PPG, 4.4 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.3 SPG)
  • CONN: Adama Sanogo - F (15.1 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.0 BPG, 51.8 FG%)

XAVIER MUSKETEERS VS. UCONN HUSKIES BETTING CONCLUSION

While yes, Xavier topped UConn the last time these teams faced, and very recently at that, I just don't trust the Musketeers hitting the road. They're 1-2 SU in the past three road outings, while going just 3-3 ATS in the past six road outings inside the conference. I'd feel a little better about Xavier if they were full strength, too, but missing Johnson is a lot of offense that it simply cannot afford to have in street clothes.

UConn is back at Gampel Pavilion, and it will have the revenge factor, too, looking to atone for a 74-68 loss at Xavier, its most recent setback, on Feb. 11. UConn can also ill-afford to lose a ninth game, as they're already looking at a low seed if it qualifies for the NCAA Tournament, and more losses to similar teams could mean the ninth or 10th line for March Madness, should it qualify. UConn needs some quality wins, and it will get one here.

XAVIER MUSKETEERS VS. UCONN HUSKIES BETTING TRENDS

  • Xavier is 3-8 ATS in the past 11 games overall.
  • Xavier is 5-2 ATS in the past seven after a SU loss.
  • Xavier is 2-5 ATS in the past seven after an ATS loss.
  • UConn is 1-6 ATS in the past seven games overall.
  • UConn is 1-6 ATS in the past seven vs. winning teams.
  • UConn is 0-4 ATS in the past four after a SU win.
  • UConn is 1-4 ATS in the past five after an ATS loss.
  • The OVER is 4-1 in the past five games overall for Xavier.
  • The OVER is 9-4 in the past 13 games overall for UConn.
  • The OVER is 25-10 in the past 35 home games for UConn.
  • The OVER is 3-0 in the past three meetings.

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Daniel Dobish

Daniel Dobish

Dan is a handicapper and sports betting expert for VegasInsider with years of experience writing for a number of top publications in the industry. More from Daniel Dobish
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