UConn Huskies vs Xavier Musketeers Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 02/11/2022

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Friday, February 11, 2022

Venue:  Cintas Center, Cincinnati, OH 

Where to Watch:  Fox Sports 1

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  UConn +1, Xavier -1; Over/Under:  140.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  UConn +1.5, Xavier -1.5; Over/Under:  140.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  UConn +1.5, Xavier -1.5; Over/Under:  140.5 points

 

UConn Huskies:  16-6 (3rd place, Big East)

Xavier Musketeers:  16-7 (6th place, Big East)

 

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Will Rogers is on a RUN of 17-9 L26 NCAAB SIDES! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

 

UConn Huskies:  3-2 last 5

Xavier Musketeers:  2-3 last 5

 

 

 

UConn is coming into this game with a 16-6 record overall and they are 3-3 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. This will be their 12th conference matchup of the year and they are currently 7-4 in their conference games this season. They have lost 2 of their last 3 games but are coming into this one off of a win in their last game which snapped a 2 game losing streak that they were on. Their 2 losses in that span were against the Creighton Bluejays and the Villanova Wildcats while their win came against the Marquette Golden Eagles in their last game. Adama Sanogo led the team in points in that game with 24 while Tyrese Martin was next on the team with 18 points. RJ Cole led the team in assists in that game with 5 while Sanogo and Martin both led the team in rebounds with 15 each. They were 47.4% from the field, 42.9% from 3-point range, and 87% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 78 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 65.1 PPG against them. UConn has an ATS record of 11-11 this season and their O/U record is 15-7.

 

 

Xavier is coming into this game with a 16-7 record overall and they are 11-3 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. This will be the 13th conference matchup on their schedule this year and they are currently 6-6 in their conference games this season. Their last win was against the Butler Bulldogs but they have gone on a 2 game losing streak since then with losses coming against the DePaul Blue Demons and the Seton Hall Pirates in their last game. Jack Nunge led the team in points in that game with 22 while Paul Scruggs was next on the team with 21 points. Scruggs led the team in assists in that game with 7 and he also led the team in rebounds with 7. They were 51.1% from the field, 28.6% from 3-point range, and 76% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 73.1 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 65 PPG against them. Xavier has an ATS record of 12-11 this season and their O/U record is 9-13-1.

 

This is a game between the 24th ranked and the 25th ranked teams in the nation and the score will likely be as close as the similar ranks suggest here. Both teams have almost the same record overall with UConn being the better team in their conference games but not by much. Both have lost 2 of their last 3 games but Xavier is coming in on a losing streak while UConn is coming off of a win in their last game. UConn has struggled on the road this season though with a 3-3 record and they even lost their last game on the road as well. Xavier has been good at home this season with an 11-3 record there and even though they have lost 2 straight games, both of those losses were very close with the scores of each game being within 5 points. Xavier has the advantage being at home here against a UConn team that has struggled to keep a winning record on the road this season and they will be looking to bounce back after 2 close losses. Xavier should win this game by a few points in a very tight game.

 

UConn Xavier Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Friday, February 11, 2022 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Xavier 74 UConn 71.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert basketball picks today.  And if you enjoyed this UConn Huskies Xavier Musketeers prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NCAAB predictions and previews.

 

 

UConn Huskies: 19-9 ATS off a win against a conference rival. 15-7 OVER in all games. 33-16 OVER against conference opponents.

Xavier Musketeers: 18-35 ATS as a favorite. 16-25 ATS in all home games. 8-1 OVER off a road cover where the team lost straight up as an underdog.

 

 

UConn Huskies:  A. Akok (F) Ques Fri - Foot injury.

Xavier Musketeers:  D. Miles (F) Ques Fri - Knee injury. C. Edwards (F) Out indefinitely - Ankle injury.

 

 

“The crowd was awesome. Our guys did a good job of making plays and engaging the crowd. It was an unbelievable atmosphere in here. When you have a crowd like that, an energy like that in the building, it’s hard to lose at home.” - Dan Hurley on the crowd in his team’s win against Marquette.

 

 

"It's a game of decisions, right? Are we taking good shots? Are we taking care of the ball? I think that's where we've been lacking.” - Travis Steele on his team’s underperformance in their recent games.

 

 

 

R. Cole 

A. Jackson 

T. Martin 

Adama Sanogo 

I. Whaley

 

J. Hunter 

N. Johnson 

C. Jones 

D. Miles 

P. Scruggs

 

 

PPG: R. Cole (16)

APG: R. Cole (4.5)

Reb/G: A. Sanogo (8.4)

 

PPG: J. Nunge (12.7)

APG: P. Scruggs (4.4)

Reb/G: C. Jones (7.6)

 

Coaches:

UConn Huskies: Dan Hurley (4th season)

Xavier Musketeers: Travis Steele (4th season)