The Villanova Wildcats will be meeting the Xavier Musketeers for the second time this season. Villanova defeated Xavier 71-58 as the home team back on December 21.
That win sparked Villanova’s current four-game winning streak. Tonight, Villanova will look for another tally to add to the winning streak. But claiming victory on the road is never easy, especially in Big East play. Xavier has just two losses on the year and both were away from home.
Can Villanova get a major road win against Xavier? Here are our best free college basketball betting picks and predictions for the Big East matchup between Villanova and Xavier.
Villanova vs Xavier odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Villanova opened as a one-point favorite but has been bet down to underdog status against a red-hot Xavier team. The total has shifted from 139.5 to around 140.5 at most outlets at the time of this writing.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until tip-off and be sure to check out the full college basketball odds before placing your bets.
Villanova vs Xavier predictions
Predictions made on 1/12/2022 at 9:20 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Villanova vs Xavier game info
• Location: Cintas Center, Cincinnati, OH
• Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2022
• Tip-off: 6:30 p.m. ET
• TV: Fox Sports 1
Villanova at Xavier betting preview
Injuries
Villanova: No injuries to report.
Xavier: Cesare Edwards F (Questionable).
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Wildcats are 4-0 against the spread in their last 4 games overall. Find more NCAA betting trends for Villanova vs. Xavier.
Villanova vs Xavier picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
The Villanova Wildcats have been one of the best teams in the nation this year. Despite an 11-4 record, the Wildcats are still ranked among the Top 20 in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
Villanova rarely turns the ball over, giving the ball up just 14.1% of the time. The Wildcats shoot an effective field goal percentage of 51.4%, which can be better, but is still good enough.
The Wildcats have been terrific on the glass, earning 32.1% of offensive rebounds. Plus, Villanova is shooting 35.7% from downtown this season and the Wildcats never shy away from taking a quality three.
Xavier, on the other hand, has limited opponents to a 45% effective field goal percentage. The Musketeers have done a great job on the defensive glass this season, holding opponents to just 22.7% offensive rebounds.
Teams struggle against this Xavier defense. Opponents have shot just 30.3% from deep and 44.7% from inside the arc. On top of that, Xavier will rarely send teams to the line, and that’s crucial knowing how well Villanova has shot a sterling 79.6% from the charity stripe (7th in the nation).
On the other hand, Xavier is a Top-20 offense and has shot 34.7% from deep and 53.5% from inside. The Musketeers are capable of dominating the offensive glass but should struggle a little bit against Villanova when it comes to second-chance opportunities.
Xavier is also turning the ball over 19.2% of the time while Villanova is earning 19.8% of turnovers per game.
In the last battle between these two teams, Xavier had 13 turnovers to Villanova’s seven. Villanova won that game despite shooting 28.6% from 3-point range. I like the Wildcats' chances to make it two in a row over the Musketeers.
Prediction: Villanova +1 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
Neither team shot particularly well from beyond the arc in the last meeting between these clubs. Villanova shot 6 for 21 from 3-point range and Xavier shot just 6 for 23.
The Wildcats just performed a little bit better inside the arc and forced more turnovers to get more looks from the field.
We won't see many second-chance opportunities and both defenses are good enough to get stops. I’ll take under 140.5.
Prediction: Under 140.5 (-120)
Best bet
I’m sticking with Villanova. It’s important to build a resume and a Villanova win over Xavier on the road will be exceptional.
Villanova has already lost to UCLA, Baylor, and Creighton on the road and has also lost to Purdue on a neutral court.
I don’t bet on teams “needing” victories, but the Wildcats have to be confident coming into this game knowing they’ve already defeated Xavier once this season. A road win against a Top-20 opponent will be huge come tournament time.
Pick: Villanova +1 (-110)
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