Big East Tournament: Butler vs. Xavier odds, picks and predictions
The ninth-seeded Butler Bulldogs (13-18) and eighth-seeded Xavier Musketeers (18-12) battle Wednesday in a Big East Tournament first-round game. Tip-off from Madison Square Garden in New York is slated for 4:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Butler vs. Xavier odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Butler went 6-14 over 20 Big East games. The Bulldogs faced Xavier twice (Jan. 7, Feb. 2) and dropped both games. Slow-tempo BU is solid on defense, especially along the perimeter, but has struggled down the stretch. The Bulldogs are just 2-8 over their last 10 games.
Xavier shot a combined 50.5% over its regular-season victories against Butler. The fast-paced Musketeers are solid at both ends of the floor and usually leverage an advantage in free-throw attempts.
However, XU also scuffled over the final weeks of the regular season as it went 2-7 over its last nine outings. Xavier went 8-11 in Big East play.
See also: Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by Paste BN Sports
Butler vs. Xavier odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:03 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Butler +185 (bet $100 to win $185) | Xavier -270 (bet $270 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Butler +5.5 (-120) | Xavier -5.5 (-113)
- Over/Under (O/U): 131.5 (O: -113 | U: -120)