Butler at Xavier College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/2/2018

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Cintas Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Butler Bulldogs travel to Cintas Center to play the Xavier Musketeers on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.

Valuable Butler Bulldogs Betting Trends

The Butler Bulldogs are 8-6 against the spread this season

The Butler Bulldogs are 9-5 against the over/under this year

Important Xavier Musketeers Betting Trends

The Xavier Musketeers are 11-4 against the spread this season

The Xavier Musketeers are 10-5 against the over/under this year

Key Butler Bulldogs Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Xavier Musketeers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Kamar Baldwin averages 14.5 points per game in 33.2 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3 assists per contest and 4.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 42% for the year while his free throw percentage is 72%. Kelan Martin averages 18.9 points per game while playing 35 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 7.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is at 86%.

Player Spotlight

J.P. Macura averages 12.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 28 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.2 rebounds per contest and 3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 88%. Trevon Bluiett averages 19.7 points per game while playing 32.9 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.6 rebounds per game and has 3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 89%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Bulldogs allow 69.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 117th in the nation. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 181st and 268th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 31.4 rebounds a game which ranks 42nd, and they give up 11.5 assists per contest, which puts them in 67th place in the country. They force 15.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 287th in college basketball. Butler averages 80.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 74th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 10.9 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 55th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 174th in D-1. They average 35.5 rebounds per game and 14.4 assists per game, which ranks them 210th and 155th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 258th with 12.4 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Musketeers surrender 71.1 points per contest, which ranks them 163rd in the country. Their defense allows a 40% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 42nd and 97th in those defensive statistics. They rank 145th with 12.8 assists allowed per contest, and 37th with 31.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Musketeers are 53rd in the nation in forcing turnovers with 11.9 per game this season. Xavier is 19th in Division 1 with 86.5 points per game this year. They are 12th in the country in shooting at 51%, while their average scoring margin is 15.4. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 100th in the nation. They are 56th in college basketball in rebounding with 39.3 boards per game and 22nd in assists per contest with 17.9. The Musketeers are 240th in turnovers per game with 12.7.

Advanced Statistics

The Bulldogs are 67th in the nation in offensive rating with 111.1, and their defensive rating of 96 is ranked 88th. In terms of pace they are 204th in the country with 70.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 70th. As a team they are 74th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 213th in Division 1. Butler is 266th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 19.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 217th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Xavier is 249th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 46%, which is 55th in the nation. The Musketeers are 16th in the country in offensive rating with 118.6, and their defensive rating of 97.5 is ranked 121st. In terms of pace they are 83rd in Division 1 with 72.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 58% is 18th. As a team they are 4th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 62% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 232nd in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Butler/Xavier college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Xavier

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