NCAA Basketball Matchup: Musketeers vs Bulldogs
Sean Miller and the Arizona Wildcats had a great run in the NCAA Tournament last year.
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College Basketball Gambling Odds from BoDog
NCAA Basketball Betting Favorite: Xavier -5.5
Over/Under: 124
Butler has made it to the final game of the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two years, but they have some serious work to do if they want to get back to that point again this year. Xavier has been another extremely successful mid-major, but they are looking to get to that next level this year.
Can the Musketeers keep their perfect record or will Butler pull the upset at home?
Xavier has a terrific leader at the point guard position in Tu Holloway. Holloway is one of those guys who can get his own shot at any time, or he can create for anyone else on the floor. Holloway is hitting 50% from beyond the arc, and he has just 12 turnovers all season. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Musketeers hit the offensive glass hard, and they get a lot of second chance points. While most know about Holloway, Mark Lyons is a very impressive shooting guard as well. Lyons is averaging 17.3 points per game, and he shoots better than 50% from the floor.
Butler took a major hit when Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack both exited after last season.
Those two were the heart and soul of this team. Brad Stevens is one of the best coaches in the land, but he is looking for a leader at this point. The Bulldogs have been shooting the ball very poorly. As a team they are shooting just 40.8% from the floor.
Butler is prone to going on long scoreless periods on offense this season.
Xavier has quite a bit more talent than Butler does this season. Stevens will do his best to turn this into an ugly game, but I think Holloway and the Musketeers will cover the number.
Prediction: Xavier 67 Butler 57
