Villanova at Xavier odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Tuesday’s Villanova at Xavier odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Villanova Wildcats (11-6, 4-2 Big East) and the Xavier Musketeers (10-7, 2-4) meet Tuesday at Cintas Center in Cincinnati. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET (FS1). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Villanova vs. Xavier odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

Villanova is coming off an 80-68 loss at the St. John’s Red Storm, halting a 3-game win and cover streak. The nation’s leading scorer, F Eric Dixon was limited to just 18 points on 6-of-19 shooting, although he still connected on 4 triples. He is averaging 25.3 PPG.

Xavier paddled the DePaul Blue Demons 77-63 last time out on Saturday as a 4.5-point road favorite, bouncing back from a pair of losses to the Georgetown Hoyas and St. John’s. The Musketeers are actually in a bit of a nosedive, going 2-5 straight up (SU) in the past 7 games. However, Xavier is an impressive 6-2 against the spread (ATS) in the previous 8 contests.

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Villanova at Xavier odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:24 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Villanova +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Xavier -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Villanova +2.5 (-105) | Xavier -2.5 (-115)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 147.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Villanova at Xavier picks and predictions

Prediction

Villanova 75, Xavier 71

Moneyline

VILLANOVA (+135) is a strong play as moderate underdogs. Xavier (-160) hasn’t been playing good basketball lately, with wins against just lowly St. John’s and the Seton Hall Pirates since mid-December.

The Wildcats are in much better shape, winning 8 of the past 10 games, and they have the nation’s leading scorer in tow.

Against the spread

Villanova +2.5 (-105) doesn’t make a whole lot of sense as a play, unless you’re either ultra conservative as a bettor, or you believe Xavier -2.5 (-115) is going to win, but only by 1 or 2 points. The Wildcats are a much, much better value straight up.

PASS.

Over/Under

UNDER 147.5 (-110) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at best.

The Over and Under have alternated in the past 4 games for the Wildcats. Villanova has allowed 67 or fewer points in 4 of the past 7 games, and 7 of the previous 10 contests.

For Xavier, the Under and Over have alternated in the past 8 games, with the Under going 10-4-1 across the previous 15 contest.

The Under has connected in 3 straight meetings, too, while going 7-1 in the past 8 in the series since Dec. 30, 2019.

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