UConn at Butler odds, picks and predictions
The UConn Huskies (12-2, 2-1 Big East) visit the Butler Bulldogs (10-4, 1-2) Friday in Indianapolis. The opening tipoff at Hinkle Fieldhouse will be at 6:30 p.m. ET (FS1). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the UConn vs. Butler odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
Connecticut, ranked No. 4 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll, demolished DePaul 85-56 Tuesday, covering as a 23-point favorite. The Huskies play a slow-tempo style, but an efficient offense is driven by a 62.1% 2-point field-goal mark (4th NCAA-I) and a high rate on the offensive glass.
The Bulldogs were a +6.5 at St. John's Tuesday, but lost 86-70 after being outshot and out-rebounded by the host Red Storm. Straight up, Butler has dropped 2 in a row. Against the spread, BU is winless since Nov. 30 (0-5). Against top-100-type teams, Butler has been undone at the defensive end. The Bulldogs have allowed 87.3 points per game over their last 3 losses.
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UConn at Butler odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 9:59 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: UConn -275 (bet $275 to win $100) | Butler +220 (bet $100 to win $220)
- Against the spread (ATS): UConn -6.5 (-110) | Butler +6.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 144.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
UConn at Butler picks and predictions
Prediction
UConn 77, Butler 65
Moneyline
No interest here. UConn is a would-be lean, but the leverage is little if any. And too costly for most. PASS.
Against the spread
Across its last 6 games as a home underdog of 6.5-9 points, Butler has gone 1-5 ATS. In series games since 2021, Connecticut is 6-0 straight up and 6-0 ATS.
The Bulldogs are not on a good trajectory. Four of their worst 5 games this season have come in the last month. BU has been just fine at home, but the Hinkle Fieldhouse slat so far has been an easy one.
UConn has the superior defense and rebounding game. Look for the Huskies to rim-and-3 this one into double digits. The way they slipped against similar-quality Seton Hall Dec. 23 figures to be a fresh reminder on staying focused, especially in a circuit game.
BACK THE HUSKIES -6.5 (-110).
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Over/Under
The O/U is 3-3 across the last 6 meetings. This pace figures to be moderate-to-slow with few turnovers. Give the expected lead side an extra triple or 2 plus several extra chances on put-backs, and a low-to-mid-140s number looks to be solid.
AVOID.
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