Xavier (15-2, 3-1) at Villanova (14-1, 2-1)
When: Wednesday, January 10th 2018
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Time: 8:00 ET | TV: FOX Sports 1
Opening Odds: Villanova -10
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Number one teams in the country this season have had a hard time holding onto that ranking and the Villanova Wildcats will get their second chance at staying on top when they host the 10th-ranked Xavier Musketeers on Wednesday night off campus at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Wildcats will look for a better defensive effort than they’ve put forth recently, while the Musketeers are looking to rebound from a disappointing performance at Providence. Xavier had won 10 in a row before scoring just 72 points – its second-lowest total of the season – in Saturday’s 81-72 setback against the Friars, who suffocated the Musketeers’ solid backcourt throughout the contest. The Xavier guards, which include Trevon Bluiett, shot a combined 13-of-39 against Providence with Bluiett shooting 40% or worse for the sixth time in seven games. Villanova has one of the best backcourts in the country led by Jalen Brunson, who had 27 points and eight assists in Saturday’s 100-90 win against Marquette. Brunson helped the Wildcats defeat the Musketeers by a combined 41 points in two meetings last season, and Villanova has taken 24 of the 29 all-time matchups.
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Despite his recent shooting slump, Bluiett is still shooting a career-best 45.3% from the field and is also is setting personal bests from 3-point land (41.7) and the charity stripe (85.9). Fellow senior J.P. Macura (13.1 points) also is setting career highs in all three categories, while recording a team-leading 27 steals. Kerem Kanter was the star against Providence, shooting 10-of-15 from the floor for a season-best 24 points and pulling down 12 boards. Xavier will host 25th-ranked Creighton on Saturday.
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The Wildcats are seventh in the country in scoring offense (88.9 points per game), but their defense only ranks 117th at 69.8 points allowed per contest, and the team has given up an average of 92 points over its last three games. Brunson leads Villanova at 19.4 points per game and shoots 49.3 percent from downtown, and has a terrific assist-to-turnover ratio approaching 4-to-1. Mikal Bridges adds 17.8 points and has exceeded that average in four straight games while draining multiple 3-pointers in each of those four contests. Villanova will be on the road for the next three games against longtime Big East rivals St. Johns, Georgetown, and Connecticut.
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Villanova may be the best team in the country, but this Xavier team can play and is a legitimate Final Four contender. I would give the Wildcats a better shot at a double-digit win if this game were on campus, but nine is too many at the spacious Wells Fargo Center.
Pick: Xavier +9
- Musketeers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Musketeers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
- Musketeers are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 road games.
- Musketeers are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Musketeers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 vs. Big East.
- Musketeers are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Musketeers are 14-5 ATS in their last 19 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Musketeers are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games overall.
- Musketeers are 14-6 ATS in their last 20 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Musketeers are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games following a straight up loss.
- Wildcats are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win.
- Wildcats are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Wildcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Wildcats are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS loss.
- Wildcats are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Wildcats are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
- Wildcats are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Wildcats are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 Wednesday games.
- Wildcats are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 6-2 in Musketeers last 8 vs. Big East.
- Under is 5-2 in Musketeers last 7 games following a straight up loss.
- Over is 9-4 in Musketeers last 13 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Over is 7-0 in Wildcats last 7 overall.
- Over is 4-0 in Wildcats last 4 games after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game.
- Over is 6-0 in Wildcats last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Over is 4-0 in Wildcats last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Over is 6-0 in Wildcats last 6 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 4-0 in Wildcats last 4 home games.
- Over is 4-0 in Wildcats last 4 games following a ATS loss.
- Over is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 Wednesday games.
- Under is 11-4 in Wildcats last 15 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Favorite is 9-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
- Home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
- Musketeers are 1-8 ATS in the last 9 meetings.
- Musketeers are 0-5 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Villanova.
