nate-johnson-xavier.jpg
Getty Images

No. 18 Xavier (11-1) and No. 23 Villanova (7-4) will battle it out on Tuesday night in a matchup between Big East rivals. The Musketeers head into this contest playing extremely well. On Dec. 18, Xavier beat Marquette 80-71 to win its seventh game in a row. Villanova is in a slump and has dropped two straight games. 

Tipoff is at 7 p.m. ET from Finneran Pavilion. The Wildcats are favored by 5.5 points in the latest Xavier vs. Villanova odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under is 136. Before locking in any Villanova vs. Xavier picks, be sure to check out 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. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of almost $2,200 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Xavier vs. Villanova, and just revealed its coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see all of the model's college basketball picks. Here are several college basketball odds and betting lines for  Villanova vs. Xaviers:

  • Xavier vs. Villanova spread: Villanova -5.5 
  • Xavier vs. Villanova over-under: 136 points 
  • Xavier vs. Villanova money line: Villanova -230, Xavier +190 
  • NOVA: Wildcats are 4-1 ATS in their last five games as a home favorites 
  • XAV: Musketeers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall

Why Xavier can cover

Junior forward Jack Nunge is averaging 13 points with 7.8 rebounds per game. He has logged three double-doubles thus far. In the win against Cincinnati, Nunge finished with a season-high 31 points with 15 boards. The Indiana native has also been very efficient and shoots 54 percent from the floor.

Senior guard Nate Johnson is first on the team in points per game (13.3) and 3-point percentage (.473). Johnson has scored in double figures in seven games this year. The Florida native put up a season-high 30 points in a close victory against Virginia Tech. Johnson shot 10 of 14 from the floor and 7 of 11 from 3-point range. 

Why Villanova can cover

Veteran guard Collin Gillespie is logging a team-best 16.2 points with 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. Gillespie has scored double-digit points in seven games this season. The Pennsylvania native is also one of the best 3-point shooters on the team, shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc. He has knocked down at least four 3-pointers in six games. 

Junior guard Justin Moore is averaging 14.2 points along with five rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Moore has scored in double figures in eight games thus far, including five straight games to kick off the season. The Wildcats roll into this matchup ranking second in the Big East in 3-point percentage (.362). Villanova will look to snap its two-game skid and pick up its first conference win of the season. 

How to make Xavier vs. Villanova picks

SportsLine's model is leaning over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 140 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the model's Villanova vs. Xavier picks at SportsLine.

So who wins Xavier vs. Villanova? And which side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Villanova vs. Xavier spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks, and find out.