Marquette at Xavier College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/24/2018

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Cintas Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Marquette Golden Eagles travel to Cintas Center to play the Xavier Musketeers on Wednesday, January 24, 2018. The opening line for this game has Xavier as 7.5 point favorites.

Marquette heads into this matchup with a mark of 13-6. They currently have a point differential of 7.4 as they are averaging 83.1 points per contest while giving up 75.7 per game. Xavier has an overall record of 18-3. They are averaging 84.5 points per game and surrendering 73.0, good for a point differential of 11.5.

Valuable Marquette Golden Eagles Betting Trends

The Marquette Golden Eagles are 9-9 against the spread this season

The Marquette Golden Eagles are 10-8 against the over/under this year

Important Xavier Musketeers Betting Trends

The Xavier Musketeers are 14-7 against the spread this season

The Xavier Musketeers are 12-9 against the over/under this year

Key Marquette Golden Eagles Injuries

11/27/17 G Haanif Cheatham Personal has left team

Key Xavier Musketeers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Markus Howard averages 21.5 points per game while playing 31.5 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is at 100%. Andrew Rowsey averages 20.8 points per game in 31.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.3 assists per contest and 3.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 91%.

Player Spotlight

Trevon Bluiett averages 19.1 points per game while playing 34 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.5 rebounds per game and has 2.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 81%. J.P. Macura averages 13.4 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 28.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.2 rebounds per contest and 3.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

Marquette averages 83.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 28th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 7.4 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 74th. Behind the arc they shoot 41%, which is good for 19th in the country. They average 32.7 rebounds per game and 16.3 assists per game, which ranks them 310th and 43rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 308th with 11.7 per game. The Golden Eagles allow 75.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 266th in Division 1. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 300th and 75th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 33.2 rebounds a game which ranks 98th and they give up 14.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 269th place in college basketball. They force 13.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 177th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Xavier is 20th in the country with 84.5 points per game this year. They are 17th in D-1 in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 11.5. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 79th in college basketball. They are 38th in the nation in rebounding with 39.4 boards per game, and 18th in assists per contest with 17.6. The Musketeers are 222nd in turnovers per game with 12.8. The Musketeers surrender 73.0 points per contest, which ranks them 205th in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 74th and 106th in those defensive statistics. They rank 213th with 13.8 assists allowed per contest and 37th with 31.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Musketeers are 44th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 11.6 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Golden Eagles are 13th in the nation in offensive rating with 116.7, and their defensive rating of 106.3 is ranked 285th. In terms of pace they are 191st in the country with 70.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 57% is 20th. As a team they are 20th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 47% of their shots, ranking 14th in Division 1. Marquette is 305th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 261st in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Xavier is 256th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 90th in the nation. The Musketeers are 17th in the country in offensive rating with 116.1, and their defensive rating of 100.3 is ranked 145th. In terms of pace they are 66th in Division 1 with 72.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 27th. As a team they are 17th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 232nd in the nation.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Xavier -7.5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink