The Marquette Golden Eagles take on the Xavier Musketeers in Cincinnati, OH. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. ET on FOX.
Marquette is favored by 5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -220. The total is set at 154.5 points.
Here are my Marquette vs. Xavier predictions and college basketball picks for December 21, 2024.
Marquette vs Xavier Prediction
My Pick: Marquette -5.5 or Better
My Marquette vs Xavier best bet is on the Golden Eagles spread, with the best odds currently available at Caesars. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Marquette vs Xavier Odds, Lines, Pick
| Marquette Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5 -110 | 154.5 -110 / -110 | -220 |
| Xavier Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5 -110 | 154.5 -110 / -110 | +180 |
- Marquette vs Xavier spread: Marquette -5
- Marquette vs Xavier over/under: 154.5 points
- Marquette vs Xavier moneyline: Marquette -220, Xavier +180
- Marquette vs Xavier best bet: Marquette -5.5 or Better
My Marquette vs Xavier College Basketball Betting Preview
Marquette Basketball
Marquette returned with an experienced roster from last season, with Shaka Smart relying on a handful of players to elevate their roles and increase production.
So far, that has been a sound strategy, with the Golden Eagles off to an 8-2 start, including big wins over Maryland, Purdue, Georgia and Wisconsin.
The team's familiarity has been most clear on the defensive end, where Smart's squad is showing shades of his old "Havoc" units at VCU. Marquette ranks in the top 10 in forcing steals and turnovers, while ranking in the top 10 in avoiding turnovers on the offensive end.
That discrepancy can be massive over a 40-minute game, explaining why the Golden Eagles have attempted more field goals than their opponent in all but one game this season.
That advantage goes much further when the extra shots on the ledger are efficient looks at the rim.
Point guard Kam Jones has run Marquette's offense this season after he was a secondary creator behind Tyler Kolek last time around. He has been marvelous, dropping 20 points and six assists per game, making him one of the premier guards in college basketball.
Xavier Basketball
Xavier answered the call in its last outing, a road trip to play the two-time reigning champs at UConn, which I predicted to cover the double-digit spread.
With top-scorer Zach Freemantle out injured, the Musketeers led the game late in the second half and forced an overtime period before UConn nipped a narrow win.
It was a whiff on the handicap by me, yet I'm going to stick to my guns a bit. Xavier made its season-high from beyond the arc, sinking 13-of-24 attempts from long range (54%).
Reserve guard Dante Maddox Jr. had made just nine triples all season before the UConn game. He sunk five more in that outing against the Huskies while scoring a season-high 22 points.
With Freemantle, Xavier's best big, sidelined due to injury, Sean Miller chose not to replace his production in the paint, but to augment Xavier's attack. The Musketeers spread the floor with small-ball and attacked with jump shots and dribble drives.
Indiana State transfer Ryan Conwell took on the go-to guy role and succeeded against UConn's active perimeter defense.
Marquette vs. Xavier Betting Analysis
My handicap for Xavier's first game without Freemantle fell flat, but I will stick with the logic. The Musketeers are shooting a top-10 3-point percentage in the country this season, with several players outshooting their career averages.
The team's best scorer, who opened up good looks for teammates all over the floor, is out of the lineup, making every offensive possession more difficult.
Meanwhile, Xavier's last five opponents have collectively shot just 30.1% from long range, averaging only 5.6 made 3s on 18.6 attempts per game.
Marquette shoots nearly 30 deep balls per game and hits almost 10 of those looks nightly. That shooting regression is going to swing against Xavier eventually and this Marquette offense — currently riding a cold streak with 27% over its last three outings — is primed to take advantage.
With a game on tape without Freemantle, Marquette will be prepared for the new-look Musketeers. Smart has a handful of aggressive perimeter defenders to toss at Conwell, slowing down the Xavier attack and paving the way for a Marquette cover.
