Xavier vs. UConn Picks, Predictions, Odds
While the Xavier Musketeers have flourished since the start of Big East play, the UConn Huskies have fallen apart. UConn was ranked No. 2 in the country after a 14-0 start, but the Huskies have since lost five of their last seven conference games. Their tailspin began with a loss to Xavier in Cincinnati on New Year's Eve, so UConn will look to avenge that defeat and move to over .500 in conference action with a win over the Musketeers in mid-week play.
The Xavier Musketeers will head to the northeast to take on the UConn Huskies on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. This game is scheduled to tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET from Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut with FS1 on the broadcast.
Xavier Musketeers vs. UConn Huskies Betting Prediction
It's been a rough last few weeks for UConn. After scoring five big non-conference wins and winning three straight games to start their Big East schedule, the Huskies have collapsed. Since their loss to Xavier, they have also dropped games against Providence, Marquette, St. John's, and Seton Hall.
The good news is that four of those five losses were on the road, and the Huskies knocked off Creighton at Gampel Pavilion a couple weeks ago and obliterated Butler by 30 points here over the weekend. That should lead to a bounce-back victory for UConn on Wednesday night.
Score Prediction: UConn 77 Xavier 68
Best Bet: UConn -7.5
Xavier Musketeers vs. UConn Huskies Betting Odds
Xavier Musketeers vs. UConn Huskies Betting Resources
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 25 2023
TV-Time: FS1, 7:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Gampel Pavilion
Location: Storrs, Connecticut
Matchup
Expert Picks
Xavier Musketeers vs. UConn Huskies Betting Stats
Xavier Musketeers
SU: 16-4
ATS: 11-8-1
O/U: 14-5-1
PPG: 84.1
OPPG: 75.4
UConn Huskies
SU: 16-5
ATS: 13-8
O/U: 12-8-1
PPG: 79.3
OPPG: 63.5
Straight Up (SU), Against the Spread (ATS), Over-Under (O/U)
Points Per Game (PPG), Opponents Points Per Game (OPPG)
Xavier Musketeers Betting Analysis
The Musketeers have one of the best offenses in the country. Xavier is ranked sixth in offensive efficiency according to Ken Pomeroy, as the Musketeers rank ninth in effective field goal percentage (56.0%) and fifth in three-point shooting (39.7%).
All five of Xavier's starters are making at least 39.5% of their threes, and that means opposing defenses can't lay off any player. Souley Boum is Xavier's leading scorer with 16.5 PPG, and he is making 43% of his treys. Boum is also one of the two primary set-up men in this offense, averaging 5.1 APG. Zach Freemantle is the most efficient scorer, averaging 15.4 PPG and 8.5 RPG while making 58.3% of his field goals, and Jack Nunge isn't far behind him. Nunge is averaging 14.5 PPG and 8.1 RPG, and he is hitting 51.3% of his field goals while shooting exactly 40% from the perimeter.
Colby Jones leads Xavier with 5.2 APG to go with 14.3 PPG and 5.0 RPG as a well-rounded combo guard, while Adam Kunkel rounds out the starting lineup and is averaging 10.6 PPG. The starters all average at least 28.0 MPG, and the three bench players in this eight-man rotation are lightly used. Senior Jerome Hunter is the most dangerous of the reserves as he can make an impact on the glass.
UConn Huskies Betting Analysis
Connecticut is one of the most balanced teams in the nation, ranking 10th in offensive efficiency and 12th in defensive efficiency per Pomeroy. The Huskies take a lot of threes, but they get a lot of open looks as this offense moves the ball well in order to find the open man.
Adama Sanogo is the star of the Huskies. Sanogo is averaging 17.2 PPG and 7.1 RPG, and he is making 58.7% of his field goals on the year. Unlike most big men with big frames, Sanogo has touch too. He is making 76.5% of his free throws and 36.7% of his threes, and that makes teams hesitant to foul him.
The second leading scorer on the Huskies is Jordan Hawkins. He is averaging 15.5 PPG and 3.9 RPG, and he is knocking down 38.8% of his threes. Unfortunately, he is only slightly better from inside the perimeter, so that has limited his efficiency. Alex Karaban is averaging 10.1 PPG and is making 38.6% of his treys on the season.
Tristen Newton and Andre Jackson Jr. are both averaging over 4.0 APG, but neither player is a strong perimeter shooter. Jackson has been seeing more action though as he can also crash the boards, helping the Huskies rate among the best teams nationally in rebounding.
The major problem for the Huskies has been a tendency to send opponents to the line far too often on defense. That tends to happen more often on the road than at home, so it shouldn't be a big deal here.