Butler vs. Xavier
Betting Pick: Butler +6.5 -110 odds (December 7th 2011)
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This is a difficult spot for Xavier as it enters this game coming off comeback wins over Vanderbilt and Purdue, the latter coming at home over the weekend. While Butler is a ‘name’ program, the Musketeers may have one eye looking forward to this weekend when it takes on cross-city rival Cincinnati. This is just the second true road game for Xavier and while the first was a big win at Vanderbilt, it almost did not happen as the Musketeers rallied big for that victory.

Butler is definitely not the same team were are accustomed to following two straight trips to the championship game. However, the Bulldogs are still very good and sitting at 4-4 is no reason for distress as we only have to look back to last season as they started with the same 4-4 record. Another postseason run is unlikely but Butler is a couple missed free throws away from being 6-2 and those games resulted in two overtime setbacks. One of those early losses last season came at Xavier, setting up a solid revenge situation.

Surprisingly the Bulldogs are going for their first victory over a nationally ranked foe at Hinkle Fieldhouse since 2009 and we do not even need the outright win here. Butler is getting a great number and of course this is based upon the early season results. What isn’t showing however is the fact that will be Butler’s sixth opponent that is ranked in the top 40 so it has been another tough early season schedule. With upcoming games against Purdue, Gonzaga and Stanford, this has turned into a big one for the Bulldogs.

Xavier is just 1-0 on the road but Butler is 10-1-1 ATS in its last 12 home games against teams with a road winning percentage of greater than .600 and it is 22-8 ATS in its last 30 games against teams with an overall winning percentage of greater than .800. As underdogs, the Bulldogs are 19-9 ATS in their last 28 times in that role with the average scoring differential dead even in those games. Meanwhile, the Musketeers are 3-10-1 ATS in their last 14 non-conference games. 3* (780) Butler Bulldogs -Matt Fargo