Xavier vs Butler Odds, Picks and Predictions: One For All, All for One

The No. 13 Xavier Musketeers head to Hinkle Fieldhouse to take on the Butler Bulldogs in Big East action on Friday night. The Musketeers will try to win their third game in a row and stay atop the conference standings while the Bulldogs are attempting to build off a home victory against St. John's on Tuesday.

Oddsmakers expect the visitors to cruise to victory today, with college basketball betting lines opening with the Musketeers as 5.5-point favorites before growing to -7. Here are my best free Xavier vs. Butler college basketball picks and predictions for February 10. 

Xavier vs Butler best odds

Xavier vs Butler picks and predictions

The Musketeers are the cream of the crop in the Big East, and while they're currently missing one of their best players in Zach Freemantle, they're coming off a 96-71 rout of St. John's without him.

The Bulldogs are also fresh off a game against the Red Storm and barely beat them at home. They've been getting massacred in conference play with nine of their 10 losses coming by at least 16 points and four defeats at home by more than 20 points. 

Although most college basketball teams shoot significantly worse on the road than at home, there isn't a big dropoff for the Musketeers. Their overall shooting percentage drops from 50.9% to 49.1% in away contests while their 3-point percentage actually ticks up to an incredible 42.3%.

That's bad news for a Butler squad that ranks outside the Top 250 in opponent field goal percentage (44.6%), doesn't do a good job of pressuring ball handlers, and gives up too many second chances on the glass. 

The Bulldogs are even worse offensively and are averaging just 55.8 ppg over their last six games. While that number should rise against an up-tempo Muskateers team that doesn't defend well, they still don't have enough firepower to keep up with the visitors here. 

My best bet: Xavier -7 (-110 at bet365)

Xavier vs Butler spread analysis

The Musketeers have won 14 of their last 16 game,s going 9-7 against the spread during that stretch. They're currently riding on a two-game winning streak after smoking the Red Storm by 25 points and sneaking by Providence in overtime. 

It was a promising sign that their high-octane offense continued to perform last week since they were missing Freemantle (16.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game), who will be sidelined until at least the Big East Tourney with a foot injury. 

Thankfully for Xavier bettors, the team has three other players averaging more than 14 ppg. Guards Souley Boum (16.3 ppg, 5.0 assists per game) and Colby Jones (15 ppg, 4.9 apg) have been dishing the ball and filling up the hoop while big man Jack Nunge adds 14.8 ppg and 7.9 rpg. 

All three of those players shoot better than 40% from deep, which has been one of the best traits of this Muskateers squad. They lead the country in 3-point percentage (40.4%) and that, combined with terrific ball movement, has helped propel them to sixth in adjusted offensive efficiency in the KenPom rankings. 

They've been less impressive on defense, where they rank 99th in adjusted defensive efficiency. 

While Xavier is in first place in the Big East standings, Butler is tied for eighth place with a 4-10 mark. The Bulldogs are coming off a 68-66 win against St. John's on Tuesday which snapped a five-game losing streak. 

The Bulldogs also have a key injury to monitor with guard Chuck Harris questionable due to a concussion against Seton Hall on January 28. Harris is one of four Butler players averaging double-digits in points led by guard Jayden Taylor (12.2 ppg on 42/34/77 shooting splits).

The Bulldogs have been mediocre with the ball and are just 186th in adjusted offensive efficiency. However, they've been better on the other end of the floor, where they rank 67th in adjusted defensive efficiency.

Xavier vs Butler Over/Under analysis

It's tough to handicap the total since both teams are on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to scoring, defense, and tempo. 

While Xavier prefers to push the pace and ranks 24th in the country in adjusted tempo, the Bulldogs prefer to slow things down and rank a modest 243rd in adjusted tempo. 

With their slow tempo and inconsistent shooting, the Bulldogs have struggled to fill up the hoop. The Under has gone 11-3 in their last 14 games and they are coming off a modest 68-point performance against the fast-paced Red Storm. That was actually the only time they've cracked the 60-point plateau in their last six games. 

Meanwhile, the Musketeers are sixth in the country in scoring with 83.8 ppg. However, they're also surrendering 76 ppg and have gone 20-6-1 to the Over in their last 27 games. 

The last four meetings between these Big East foes all cashed the Under although none of those contests saw a total above 134. 

Xavier vs Butler betting trend to know

The Bulldogs are 1-5 ATS in their last six games versus a team with a winning percentage above .600. Find more college basketball betting trends for Xavier vs. Butler.

Xavier vs Butler game info

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