Saturday March 7th Butler at Xavier Betting Pick
Musketeers Hope Their Bubble Doesn't Burst
It’s a huge game for the Musketeers in the March 7th Butler at Xavier betting pick. Travis Steele’s squad is a bubble team according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, currently projected as an 11 seed. The bubble will definitely burst for the Musketeers with a home loss to #25 Butler but Xavier is a -2.5 favorite on Saturday night.
Butler also has value getting points in this one. The Bulldogs beat Xavier by 5 back on February 12th and also won in last year’s finale albeit at home. Butler has also won two in a row, but against sub-par competition.
Butler Quietly Limping Down the Stretch?
The Bulldogs have won their last two in impressive fashion, but that’s expected as they were at least a -9.5 favorite vs. both DePaul and St. Johns. Both of those games were also at home and Butler has lost their last three on the road en route to a 4-6 away record this season.
Overall the Bulldogs have dropped 5 of their last 9 games. That being said, Butler is clicking on defense holding three straight opponents to 61 points or less. The Bulldogs rank 11th in the country in scoring defense (61.8) and are 23rd in opponents field goal percentage (39.4).
The Bulldogs do have that 66-61 win over Xavier on February 12th to lean on. Sean McDermott had 14 in that game and also grabbed 14 boards on Wednesday vs. St. Johns. That previous meeting skimmed under the total of 129.5 and Saturday night’s O/U is listed right in the same ballpark at 128.5.
Xavier With Solid Momentum Heading Into This One?
The Musketeers are looking for a bounce back in the March 7th Butler at Xavier betting pick after a 74-80 loss at Providence on Wednesday as +4 point underdogs. Xavier should be able to pick themselves up back at the Cintas Center where they are 12-4 on the season. It being the regular season finale on a Saturday night doesn’t hurt the cause for Xavier either.
Xavier did lose to Butler last month, but fought their way back from a 17 point 2nd half deficit to lose by 5. Naji Marshall went for 20 in that game for the Musketeers and Tyrique Jones added 19 but they were the only two in double figures for Steele’s team.
Butler appears to be in the tournament as a projected 5 seed from Lunardi while ranking 25th in the country. Does that make the Bulldogs ease up a bit on Saturday night? Xavier is on the bubble but also lost 64-55 at Villanova two home games ago. Butler does rank 11th in the country in scoring defense though so Xavier needs more support than just Marshall and Jones.
March 7th Butler at Xavier Betting Pick
61% of the public bettors like Xavier tonight. The Musketeers are in a must-win situation and at home vs. a Butler squad that hasn’t been playing their best basketball over the last two weeks. The Bulldogs look sexy with the #25 ranking next to them, but Xavier should be in line for an 8 or 9 point win on Saturday night.
Pick: Xavier Musketeers -2.5
