Providence Friars vs Xavier Musketeers Prediction, 3/8/2025 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Providence Friars vs Xavier Musketeers

Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025

Location: Cintas Center in Jersey City, NJ

TV: ESPN+

The Providence Friars (12-18) are en route to Cintas Center on Saturday where they will try to beat the Xavier Musketeers (20-10).

The Providence Friars played DePaul and ended up losing by a score of 80-77 in their last game. Providence ended the game with a 50.0% field goal percentage (28 out of 56) and converted 6 of their 18 shots from 3-point land. When they shot from the free throw line, the Friars made 15 of their 19 shots for a percentage of 78.9%. With regard to grabbing rebounds, they earned 29 with 9 of them being offensive. They also dished out 15 dimes in the matchup in addition to creating 11 turnovers and having 8 steals. In reference to defending, Providence allowed the other team to shoot 53.6% from the field on 30 of 56 shooting. DePaul totaled 14 assists and had 6 steals in the matchup. In addition, DePaul totaled 23 boards (5 offensive, 18 defensive), but wasn't able to record a rejection. DePaul finished the contest at 83.3% from the free throw line by converting 10 of 12 tries. They also converted 10 out of their 24 shots from beyond the arc. When discussing fouls, the Friars finished with 11 and DePaul recorded 16 fouls.

Corey Floyd Jr. is one guy who came through in this game. He finished the game shooting 75.0% from the field and also earned 2 dimes. He played for 38 minutes played and snagged 8 rebounds. He ended up walking away with 25 points on 9 of 12 shooting.

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Providence enters this contest with a mark of 12-18 for the campaign. They are averaging 71.5 points per contest (254th in D-1) while shooting 44.2% from the floor. The Friars are hitting 35.7% on 3-pointers (277 of 775) and 69.3% from the charity stripe. As a unit, Providence is pulling in 36.8 boards per game and has totaled 382 dimes so far this season, which is 255th in the nation in terms of passing the rock. They are losing possession via turnover 12.6 times per contest and as a group they commit 17.4 fouls on a nightly basis.

Defensively, the Friars are able to force 9.3 turnovers every game while drawing 15.3 personal fouls. They are 93rd in college hoops in giving up assists with 366 conceded for the campaign. The Friars defensively are giving up a field goal percentage of 43.1% (762 of 1,769) and they relinquish 33.2 rebounds per contest as a team. They are giving up 33.5% on shots from beyond the perimeter while they are 192nd in college in PPG allowed (72.3).

For their last game, the Xavier Musketeers went home victorious with a score of 91-78 when they faced Butler. The Musketeers pulled down 24 defensive boards and 7 offensive boards for a total of 31 in this matchup. They coughed up the ball 5 times, while getting 8 steals for the matchup. Butler had 15 fouls for this game which took the Musketeers to the free throw line for a total of 18 attempts. They were able to bury 16 of the free throws for a rate of 88.9%. In reference to shots from beyond the arc, Xavier converted 7 of 20 tries (35.0%). At the conclusion of this game, the Musketeers finished 34 out of 65 from the floor which gave them a rate of 52.3%. The Musketeers permitted Butler to knock down 24 out of 51 attempts from the field which gave them a percentage of 47.1% in this contest. They finished 42.9% from distance by shooting 12 of 28 and finished the game at 18 of 22 at the charity stripe (81.8%). In relation to rebounding, Xavier allowed Butler to collect 27 in all (3 offensive).

Zach Freemantle was important for the Musketeers for this game. He made 12 of 17 for the contest for a rate of 70.6%, and accounted for 8 rebounds. He racked up 24 points in his 31 mins on the court and had 2 dimes in this contest.

Xavier has a mark of 20-10 on the campaign. The Musketeers have committed 15.6 fouls per game and they hit 79.2% from the charity stripe. They are dishing out assists 16.8 times per game (25th in college hoops) and they lose possession by turning the ball over 11.3 times per contest. Xavier has totaled 2,334 pts so far this year (77.8 per contest) and they average 33.6 boards per game. When it comes to offensive execution, the Musketeers are connecting on 46.5% from the floor, which is 94th in the nation.

The Xavier defense allows 32.8% on 3-point shots (209 of 637) and their opposition knocks down 72.3% of their free throw attempts. They have given up 14.4 assists and 32.6 boards on a nightly basis, which ranks 278th and 75th in the nation. The Musketeers are ranked 136th in college in points given up per game with 70.4. They are forcing 12.4 turnovers on a nightly basis and allow teams to shoot 44.1% from the floor (202nd in college hoops).

Who will win tonight's NCAA game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Providence

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