Free NCAA Hoops Pick: #24 UConn vs. #25 Xavier CBB Odds
Looking for UConn Huskies vs. Xavier Musketeers NCAA basketball free picks & CBB odds? CBB betting sees the Huskies taking on the Musketeers on Friday, February 11, 2022, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati, OH. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all college basketball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NCAA basketball predictions like this Husky Musketeers matchup.
2022 NCAA Basketball Handicapping
(16-6) UConn Huskies vs. Xavier Musketeers (16-7)
Date: Friday, February 11, 2022
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Cintas Center
CBB Moneyline Odds: UConn +105 / Xavier -115
CBB Betting ATS Odds: Huskies +1 / Musketeers -1 (Bet Now!)
CBB Betting Total: O/U 141
The UConn Huskies and Xavier Musketeers will finally play their home and home series after the first meeting was PPD due to Covid-19 issues within the Musketeer program. So, the two programs will still meet twice with the second clash to come in just 8 days in Connecticut.
If you recall, back in mid-January these two teams were scheduled to meet for their first of two meetings but a tier 1 member of the Xavier staff produced a second positive test within the Musketeer program. You can read about it here.
Xavier had back-to-back games canceled at the time when their bout with Georgetown also got postponed but things have been ill-free within the team since then. On the court, Xavier needs to get back on track after two close losses to DePaul and Seton Hall. The Musketeers lost both games by a combined 6 points which took their record down to 16 – 7 overall and 6 – 6 in the Big East.
After consecutive losses to Creighton and Villanova, the Huskies found their bark again with a win over #18 Marquette last time out, 80 – 72. For only the second time since the 30-point night at the Battle 4 Atlantis way back on November 24, Adama Sanogo found his way to a 20+ point effort which brings his average this season up to 15.6 PPG. The sophomore has already assumed a leadership role for the Huskies and his 6-9 presence up front comes in handy.
UConn Huskies
The 8.4 rebounds for Sanogo go along with those 15.6 PPG the dude is throwing around suffering from no sophomore slump, to say the least. There’s this guy, all right. He wears #21 AND THAT’S MY BOY! Yeah, UConn alum here if you forgot and that guy is a load to deal with in the paint and he makes his presence felt every night.
The 24 point night against Marquette last time out was impressive enough but when you see 15 boards attached to his ledger you get it, right? Oh, Tyrese Martin? Yeah, he came up with 15 boards himself in the win as the two chewed up the glass! All 8 players that Coach Hurley put on the floor against the Golden Eagles gobbled up a rebound and that is why UConn is ranked 5th on the offensive glass in the nation.
Sanogo has been a double-digit scorer 14 times this season and he has now gone over 20+ for the third time with that effort last time out. I do have to get on him for those 6 turnovers he created though but the win kinda lets us look past that for now.
Tyler Polley and Jordan Hawkins both found 8 points off the bench to produce the only scoring from substitutes and stellar free-throw shooting as a team helps the situation too. UConn went 20 of 23 from the line in the win over Marquette but R.J Cole needs to produce a better night for UConn to keep their winning ways.
Cole came away with only 9 points which bring his average for the year to exactly 16 PPG to lead this squad in scoring. Cole, Sanogo, and Martin are the only Husky players averaging double-digits this season, and like so many other programs this year depth is a hella concern for Coach Hurley. It’s Polley and Hawkins and that’s it at this point so the 7 of them will really need to gel down the stretch of the regular season.
Xavier Musketeers
While UConn and Xavier are both holding on to their top-25 rankings, the Musketeers are on the verge of being knocked out of their position this coming weekend. With a 3rd straight loss, Xavier can simply not afford to let that happen tonight at home if they have plans to finish strong.
The line setters like their chances slapping a point of chalk on the home side, but that also doesn’t scream that a home win will be easy tonight. Knowing that UConn gets involved with many a close game, the Musketeers know they will be in a 40-minute battle tonight.
Last time out against Seton Hall, the Pirates carried a 10-point lead to the half but Xavier fought back to end up losing by only a bucket, 73 – 71. Jack Nunge led the way for the Musketeers pulling in 22 points and he is now the leader in scoring for this program averaging 12.7 PPG. He and Paul Scruggs have been guilty of scoring points all season as the two have been a constant to deal with. Scruggs trails Nunge by percentage points and the two feed off of each other.
Scruggs managed to find 21 points in the loss, but Nate? Oh, NATE? Calling Nate Johnson, your table is ready!! Dixon Odom and Adam Kunkel pretty much at up Johnson’s minutes as Nate only produced a single point in 20 minutes on the floor. Johnson is sitting on a 9.7 PPG average so he could either turn himself into a double-digit guy or fade away down the stretch. He is fourth on the scoring depth chart so I can only assume that Coach Steele just hopes he gets back on track early against UConn tonight.
Johnson’s last 8 games have been the reason he is seeing less playing time. Outside of the 15-point effort against Creighton back on January 29, he has not been much of a contributor at all. In fact, all 7 of those other games he has not found more than 5 points with 3 efforts with a point or less… Yes, or less! That is twice he got totally shut out in that mix which includes the loss to DePaul where he find NADA!
CBB Betting Trends:
- Huskies are 14-6-1 ATS in their last 21 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Musketeers are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
- Musketeers are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 home games.
- Over is 8-2 in Huskies’ last 10 overall.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Musketeers’ last 5 games following an ATS win.
Free UConn Huskies vs. Xavier Musketeers NCAAB Betting Prediction:
Favored at home, huh? Yeah, listen. Have you read any of my UConn previews? You know I went there and know this team rather well, right? Hmm hmm… WE GOT THIS!
Huskies ML, we don’t want your stinkin’ point or 1.5 whatever it ends up being!
4* Free CBB Betting Pick: UCONN ML +105
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