The Xavier Musketeers will try to avoid three straight losses — all to ranked teams — when they host the No. 9 Marquette Golden Eagles on Saturday, December 21. Tip is scheduled for Noon ET from the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, OH, with FOX broadcasting it live.
My Marquette vs Xavier predictions and college basketball picks think both defenses will dig in, making the Under an attractive wager.
Marquette vs Xavier prediction
My best bet
Under 154.5 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
The Xavier Musketeers don’t need any more moral victories. They’ve played two ranked teams tough over the last week and have only two losses to show for it.
On Saturday, they dropped a 68-65 decision to the then 22nd-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats before going to overtime last game against 11th-ranked UConn and dropping a 94-89 decision.
The Musketeers also have to deal with a huge injury piece, with big man Zach Freemantle (lower body) out against the Huskies and for the foreseeable future. He was Xavier’s No. 2 scorer at 16.9 points with a team-leading 7.7 rebounds.
Getting home to regroup might be their best remedy. Xavier is 7-0 at Cintas Center this season, where they’ve been pretty good defensively, holding teams to 63.9 points per game. They kept four clubs under the 60-point plateau in that sample.
The Marquette Golden Eagles shook off a disappointing loss to Dayton on Saturday to bounce back in its Big East opener, dumping Butler 80-70. Marquette overcame a brutal shooting night from distance, connecting at just a 6-for-30 rate (20%), but made up for it by grabbing 20 offensive rebounds, leading to a +28 field goal attempt advantage.
Still, this squad ranks favorably on both ends of the floor. KenPom has them 12th in offensive efficiency — paced by senior guard Kam Jones, who is averaging 20.3 points and 6.3 assists, both Top-20 marks in college basketball. The Golden Eagles are ranked 18th in defensive efficiency, limiting teams to 70 points or less eight times this season en route to a 10-2 record.
Marquette swept the two-game series a year ago and has won four straight in this head-to-head. However, they are just 1-2 on the road this season, with both of those losses coming this month. Still, the loss of Freemantle makes it difficult to take Xavier outright, or even with the points.
This has the potential of a grind-it-out affair, as both teams limit opponents to under 70 points per game on the year. Marquette and Xavier have also hit the Under in six of the last seven head-to-head meetings, and have gone Under the 154.5-point line in four of them.
Marquette vs Xavier same-game parlay
Under 154.5
Kam Jones Over 19.5 points
Ryan Conwell Over 2.5 made 3-pointers
Kam Jones is coming off a 23-point performance in the win over Butler, the third time in five games he’s cracked the 20-point plateau. He should be looking forward to this matchup, as he absolutely lit Xavier on fire last season.
Jones went for 34 points on 11-for-17 shooting, including six triples, in an 88-64 win on February 25, and followed that up with 30 points on 12-for-17 shooting on March 9 in an 86-80 Golden Eagles W.
With Freemantle out, Ryan Conwell figures to be the one to pick up the scoring slack for the Musketeers. He had 23 points in the loss to UConn, including a 3-for-5 effort from 3-point range.
Conwell has now hit at least three triples in 10 of 12 games this season, helping Xavier to a seventh-best mark in the nation shooting from beyond the arc, a 40.7% clip.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game CBB moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your school goes up by 18+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Marquette vs Xavier odds
Marquette vs Xavier live odds
Marquette vs Xavier opening odds
- Spread: Marquette -4.5 | Xavier +4.5
- Moneyline: Marquette -185 | Xavier +155
- Over/Under: Over 154.5 | Under 154.5
Odds courtesy of bet365
Marquette vs Xavier betting trend to know
Xavier has lost 13 straight games to ranked opponents. Find more college basketball betting trends for Marquette vs. Xavier.
How to watch Marquette vs Xavier
| Location: | Cintas Center, Cincinnati, OH |
| Date: | Saturday, 12-21-2024 |
| Tip-off: | 12:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | FOX |
Marquette vs Xavier key injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
