Xavier (16-10) vs Butler (12-13)
Game Info: Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 8:00 pm (Cintas Center)
The Line: Betting Odds: Xavier -7.5 — Over/Under: 153.5
The Butler Bulldogs are visiting the Xavier Musketeers on Tuesday, February 18th at the Cintas Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Butler Bulldogs vs Xavier Musketeers Prediction. We will examine:
The Xavier Musketeers’ recent form and player performance
The Butler Bulldogs’ recent form and player performance
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Xavier Musketeers
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Butler Bulldogs
Recent betting trends in games played between the Butler Bulldogs and Xavier Musketeers
A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Butler Bulldogs vs Xavier Musketeers game
Xavier Musketeers Preview
The Xavier Musketeers have a 16-10 record this season and are sitting in 6th place in the Big East. Xavier is coming off an 85-68 win over DePaul. The Musketeers are 14-12 against the spread, and 12-13-1 in over/under, while having a 12-2 home record.
Offensively, Xavier is averaging 77.3 points per game, which ranks 96th in the nation. Defensively, they allow 70.9 points per game (157th). The Musketeers shoot 46% from the field (116th) and 38.6% from beyond the arc, which is the 13th-best in the nation. The Musketeers shoot 79% from the free throw line (12th) and are grabbing 33.8 rebounds per game (270th).
Zach Freemantle leads Xavier in scoring this season, with an average of 17 points and a team-high 7.2 rebounds, while Ryan Conwell adds 15.5 points per game. Xavier will meet Seton Hall after this game.
Butler Bulldogs Preview
The Butler Bulldogs have a 12-13 record this season and are sitting in 9th place in the Big East. The Bulldogs are coming off a 97-86 win over Georgetown. The Bulldogs are 13-12 against the spread, and 15-10 in over/under, while having a 1-6 road record.
Offensively, Butler is averaging 74.6 points per game, which ranks 168th nationally. Defensively, they allow 72.3 points per game, which is 200th in the nation. The Bulldogs shoot 46.2% from the field (102nd) and 37.7% from beyond the arc (27th). The Bulldogs shoot 73.9% from the free-throw line (108th) and are grabbing 35.6 rebounds per game (173rd).
Jahmyl Telfort leads Butler in scoring this season, with an average of 15.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and a team-high 3.5 assists, while Pierre Brooks adds 15.5 points and 5 rebounds per game. Butler will play against DePaul, St. John’s, and Villanova following this one.
Why the Xavier Musketeers will win
- Xavier has won 12 of its last 13 games at Cintas Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
- Butler has lost seven of its last eight road night games against the Big East Conference.
- Butler has lost the first half in each of its last four games at Cintas Center.
Why the Butler Bulldogs will win
- Butler has won five of its last six games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
- Xavier has lost five of its last six games following a home win.
- Butler has won the first half in each of its last six games against the Big East Conference.
Total Points Facts
- Sixteen of Butler’s last 17 night games against non-AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 151 or fewer points.
- Each of Xavier’s last four home games against Conference opponents has produced a total of 153 or fewer points.
Butler Bulldogs vs Xavier Musketeers Prediction
Xavier is 3-1 in their last 4 meetings against Butler, but Butler is 5-2 against the spread in their last 7 meetings. Over is 6-3 in their last 9 meetings, and in their most recent meeting last season, Xavier won 76-72 on the road, covering the spread, as the game went under the point total.
In this Butler Bulldogs vs Xavier Musketeers Prediction, Xavier is coming as a -7.5 home favorites. Xavier is rightfully favored, as they have a better record this season, and have been extremely good at home, while Butler is struggling on the road, with just one win in their 7 road games. Both teams are coming in very good form and are both playing some higher-scoring games lately, as they are a strong 16-1 to the over in their last 17 games combined. I expect another high-scoring affair today, so take the over.