The second-ranked Connecticut Huskies and the No. 22 Xavier Musketeers look to stay unbeaten in Big East play when they clash at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati on Saturday. The Huskies (14-0) are 3-0 in league play after outlasting Villanova 74-66 on Wednesday at home. The Musketeers (11-3) won their seventh in a row on Wednesday with an 84-79 victory at St. John's as Xavier moved to 3-0 in the Big East. This will be the sixth meeting between the schools with UConn holding a 3-2 edge in the series.
Tip-off is set for noon ET. Connecticut is averaging 82.9 points per game, while Xavier averages 83.9. The Huskies are 2.5-point favorites in the latest UConn vs. Xavier odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 149.5. Before locking in any Xavier vs. UConn picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters Week 8 of the season 21-15 on all-top rated college basketball picks. Anybody who has followed it has seen profitable returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on UConn vs. Xavier and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college basketball odds and betting lines for Xavier vs. UConn:
- UConn vs. Xavier spread: Connecticut -2.5
- UConn vs. Xavier over/under: 149.5 points
- UConn vs. Xavier money line: Connecticut -140, Xavier -120
- CONN: The Huskies are 6-0 against the spread in their last six games against a team with a winning % above .600
- XAV: The Musketeers are 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight-up record
- UConn vs. Xavier picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why UConn can cover
The Huskies have six players averaging eight points or better, including senior guard Tristen Newton. The East Carolina transfer has started all 14 games for the Huskies and is averaging 9.9 points, 4.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game. He has reached double-figure scoring in five games and registered a triple-double against Buffalo on Nov. 15. In that game, he scored 22 points, dished out 11 assists and grabbed 10 rebounds. He had a season-high 23 points in an 83-59 win over Oregon on Nov. 24 in the Phil Knight Invitational.
Freshman forward Alex Karaban has started 13 of 14 games this season, averaging 9.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He is coming off a 15-point, six-rebound effort against Villanova on Wednesday. Karaban scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a 114-61 victory over Long Island University on Dec. 10. He has reached double-digit scoring in nine games.
Why Xavier can cover
UTEP transfer and senior guard Souley Boum is a big reason the Musketeers are off to a fast start in the conference. He has reached double-figure scoring in 12 consecutive games, including a 17-point, six-rebound and six-assist performance in Wednesday's win at St. John's. He scored 28 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out seven assists, while recording four steals in a 102-89 win over Georgetown on Dec. 16. He is averaging 17.3 points, 4.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.
Senior forward Jack Nunge, in his second year in the program after starting his collegiate career at Iowa, has started all 14 games this season. He is averaging 15.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. He is connecting on 54.1% of his field goals, including 42.5% from 3-point range. Nunge recorded a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds against St. John's. It was his third of the season and second in three games. He also had 18 points and 12 rebounds in the win at Georgetown.
How to make Xavier vs. UConn picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 151 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Xavier vs. UConn? And which side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is 21-15 on its top-rated college basketball picks this season, and find out.
