Xavier vs. UConn Men: Picks, Predictions and Odds

The Big East portion of the 2024/25 NCAA Men’s Basketball season kicks into gear with two-time defending national champion No. 11 Connecticut hosting Xavier.

This is the first time the two teams have squared up since the Huskies sent the Musketeers packing in the Big East Tournament to complete a three-game season sweep in 2023/24.

UConn (8-3) has seemingly recovered from a brutal Maui Invitational, where it lost all three of its contests. Coach Dan Hurley’s squad has won four straight, including a massive 77-71 victory over then-No. 8 Gonzaga at Madison Square Garden over the weekend.

This recent stretch has seen the emergence of freshman Liam McNeeley, who is poised to become UConn’s next star. He had a career-high 26 points, along with eight rebounds and four assists in the win over Gonzaga. He is now second on the team in both points (13.6) and rebounds (6.1).

Xavier coach Sean Miller’s return has produced mixed results. Now in his third year back at the school, the team has reached a Sweet 16 and missed the postseason entirely under the former Arizona coach.

This year’s squad has lost three of its last five games after starting the season 6-0. That includes a 68-65 loss to crosstown rival Cincinnati over the weekend, the Musketeers’ first loss in the series in six tries.

Zach Freemantle, who leads Xavier with 16.9 points and 7.7 rebounds, had 18 and seven in the loss.

Xavier vs. UConn betting picks and predictions

Xavier +13.5 (-110)

The Huskies responded immediately from their Maui debacle with a 54-point drubbing of University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The more pertinent results came after, as UConn bested then-No.15 Baylor, Texas, and Gonzaga to get its momentum back.

In addition to McNeeley’s emergence, UConn has dependable Alex Karaban in the middle. He leads the team with 15.6 points a game, followed by McNeeley (13.6), Solo Ball (12.5 ppg), and Tarris Reed Jr. (11.1 ppg, 8 rpg). The team is 6-0 at home, winning their first five easily against overmatched opponents before gutting out a four-point triumph over Baylor two weeks ago.

The Huskies are moving the ball around well as they currently are second in the Big East with 19.8 assists a game.

The Musketeers, meanwhile, have yet to win on the road this season. The team committed 14 turnovers in the loss to Cincinnati, and Freemantle’s 3-point attempt to tie the game at the buzzer missed.

Ryan Conwell, who had 17 points and six rebounds against the Bearcats, is second on the team to Freemantle in scoring with 16.5 points a game. Dayvion McKnight is contributing 10.3 points and a team-high 4.4 assists a contest.

Xavier was no match for the Huskies on the road last season, losing at UConn 99-56 before dropping their Big East Tournament matchup by 27. The rosters have changed, but the expected outcome does not.

Look for the Huskies to win easily, but look for the Musketeers to sneak in late and cover the +13.5-point spread as underdogs.

Under 147.5 Total Points (-110)

Xavier is averaging nearly 80 points a game, but only 68.5 in its two road matchups, both losses.

Meanwhile, the Huskies are holding opponents to under 65 points a game. They’re dropping 83.5 a contest as well, and we expect them to do the same thing again here.

UConn has gone below 147.5 points in six of its 11 games, and Xavier has done the same in seven of its 11 games. Expect the two teams to total Under 147.5 points.

Read more betting picks and predictions for College Basketball on site.

Xavier vs. UConn odds

Xavier	+700 ML
Connecticut	-1100 ML
Spread	Connecticut -13.5
Total Points	O/U 147.5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.