Big East Betting Roundup: UConn at Xavier Highlights Busy Week
No. 2 Huskies in Action Twice During Week
The No. 2 Connecticut Huskies find themselves in the spotlight in the Big East Conference. The Huskies have a pair of key conference games, which will be looked at in this Big East betting roundup. Creighton, the preseason favorite in the Big East tournament odds, has an extended break and won’t return to action until Jan. 3.
Villanova Wildcats vs Connecticut Huskies
Date & Time:
Location: XL Center (Hartford, Connecticut)
Streaming: Fox Sports 1
Villanova has been a bit of a disappointment so far this season. Bigger things were expected from the Villanova Wildcats, particularly on defense, where the team has been a bit shaky at times. This is a team that was picked second in the preseason Big East Tournament Odds, and right now they’re playing like a middle-of-the-pack squad. But this is a spot where the Wildcats could worth a look getting double digits.
Only one of Villanova’s losses has been by more than eight points, which is an inexplicable loss against Portland.
Xavier Musketeers vs St. John’s Red Storm
Date & Time:
Location: Carnesecca Arena (Jamaica, N.Y.)
Streaming: Fox Sports 1
Expect ranked Xavier Musketeers to be the slimmest of road favorites in this one, which is shaping up to be a pretty good game. The Musketeers have the edge in the offensive college basketball stats.
But St. John’s is better defensively and will need to play good perimeter defense in this one. Xavier is making 40.9% of its 3-point attempts and if they’re falling, it will be a long night for St. John’s.
New Year’s Eve NCAAB Games
St. John’s Red Storm vs Seton Hall
Date & Time:
Location: Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.)
Streaming: Fox Sports 1
A second straight tough game for the Red Storm, this time making the short trip to Seton Hall Pirates. The Pirates aren’t that great offensively but they can shut down the opposition. The Pirates were picked to finish in the middle of the pack in the preseason Big East Tournament Odds and if the offense doesn’t start to pick things up that will be correct.
Seton Hall is No. 258 in effective field goal percentage and are turning the ball over more than 20% of possessions.
Connecticut Huskies vs Xavier Musketeers
Date & Time:
Location: Cintas Center (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Streaming: Fox Sports 1
The Huskies will be small road favorites in this one, which won’t be an easy game. UConn has looked like a team on a mission this NCAAB season, trying to erase the memory of being upset by 12th-seeded New Mexico State in the NCAAB Game Tournament and losing against the March Madness spreads in the process.
If the line comes out Huskies -5 or more, the underdog warrants a shooter’s look. Xavier can hit from the outside.
Marquette Golden Eagle vs Villanova Wildcats
Date & Time:
Location: Finneran Pavilion (Villanova, Pennsylvania)
Streaming: Fox Sports 1
The Golden Eagle were predicted to finish towards the bottom of the preseason Big East Tournament Odds, but is playing well.
Villanova will be coming off a college basketball matchup with Connecticut and could have a bit of a letdown depending on the outcome of that game.
Both teams are solid offensively but Marquette has shown a little more on the defensive side this season and is a look at a small underdog.
New Year’s Day NCAAB Schedule
Providence Friars vs DePaul Blue Demons
Date & Time:
Location: Wintrust Arena (Chicago, Illinois)
Streaming: Fox Sports 1
Providence will be road favorites in this one, where the DePaul Blue Demons are still in the middle of a rebuild. DePaul was picked last in the preseason Big East Tournament Odds, and they haven’t done much to prove that wrong.
The Blue Demons are a little better than average offensively and defensively. But that’s not going to cut it in the Big East Conference. While Providence Friars isn’t anything special defensively, the Friars are strong offensively, hitting 54.2% of 2-point attempts.
The Friars get a lot of second chances, ranking fourth in offensive rebounding percentage. Until DePaul shows a little more, it’s hard to take them in conference play.
Big East: Butler Bulldogs vs Georgetown Hoyas
Date & Time:
Location: Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)
Streaming: Fox Sports 1
The last thing you’d expect from a Patrick Ewing team is a lack of defense. But that’s been the biggest problem for Georgetown Hoyas this season. With a team that ranks No. 258 in adjusted defensive efficiency, it’s little wonder the Hoyas are struggling for wins.
The Hoyas aren’t all that bad offensively, ranking No. 97 in adjusted offensive efficiency. Butler can match the Hoyas on offense and are a little better defensively, so the Butler Bulldogs will be small road favorites in this one.
Butler was picked to finish towards the bottom in the preseason Big East Tournament Odds. For some reason, Georgetown has been a much better home team the past few seasons. The Hoyas are worth a look catching anything more than 2.5 points in this game.
For NCAAB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
