USATSI

The top-ranked Connecticut Huskies will look to continue their winning ways when they take on the Xavier Musketeers for the second time this season in a key Big East battle on Sunday. UConn defeated Xavier 80-75 on Jan. 10 in Cincinnati. The Musketeers (10-9, 4-4 Big East), who have won three of their past four games, suffered an 85-78 setback at Creighton on Tuesday. The Huskies (17-2, 7-1 Big East), who have won seven in a row and 10 of 11, posted a 66-65 win at Villanova on Jan. 20.

Tip-off is set for noon ET from the XL Center in Hartford, Conn. The Huskies are 11-point favorites in the latest Xavier vs. UConn odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 148. Before making any UConn vs. Xavier picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 12 of the 2023-24 season on a 114-73 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $2,000 for $100 players. It is also off to a sizzling 19-5 start on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Xavier vs. UConn and revealed its CBB picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for UConn vs. Xavier:

  • Xavier vs. UConn spread: UConn -11
  • Xavier vs. UConn over/under: 148 points
  • Xavier vs. UConn money line: Xavier +463, UConn -642
  • XAV: The Musketeers are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games on the road
  • UCONN: The Huskies are 4-2 ATS in their last six games
  • Xavier vs. UConn picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why UConn can cover

Guard Cam Spencer brings a lot of firepower to the Huskies' lineup. The fifth-year senior, who spent last season at Rutgers and the previous three at Loyola-Maryland, co-leads UConn in scoring at 15.4 points per game, and is also averaging 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. In 19 starts, he has reached double-digit scoring 16 times, including a season-high 25 points in an 87-53 win over Mississippi Valley State earlier in the season. He scored 23 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out six assists in an 87-76 win over North Carolina just before Christmas.

A former transfer and another key to the Connecticut offense is senior guard Tristen Newton, who is in his second season with the Huskies after three seasons at East Carolina. He has started all 19 games and is also averaging 15.4 points per game, to go along with 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.3 steals in 33 minutes of play. He has been on a tear and is coming off a 25-point, six-rebound, and three-assist effort at Villanova. He has three double-doubles on the year and one triple-double, a 15-point, 13-assist, and 10-rebound performance against Manhattan in a 90-60 win. See which team to pick here. See which team to pick here.

Why Xavier can cover

Senior guard Quincy Olivari, a first-year transfer from Rice, powers the Musketeers' offense. In 19 games, all starts, he is averaging 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.1 steals in 30.4 minutes. He is connecting on 43.9% of his field goals, including a blistering 42.9% from 3-point range, and 81.7% of his free throws. Olivari is coming off a 15-point, seven-rebound, and three-assist effort in the loss at Creighton.

Sophomore forward Desmond Claude is another solid offensive option for Xavier. In 19 starts, he is averaging 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 33.7 minutes. In the loss to Creighton, he poured in 20 points, while grabbing four boards and adding three steals. He has scored 20 or more points in three of the past four games, including a 26-point effort in an 85-71 win over Butler on Jan. 16. He had 15 points in the first meeting at UConn. See which team to pick here.

How to make UConn vs. Xavier picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 150 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine. 

So who wins Xavier vs. UConn, and which side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the UConn vs. Xavier spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is on a 19-5 roll on its top-ranked college basketball picks, and find out.