Xavier vs Cincinnati 12/11/21 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds
Cincinnati Bearcats (7-2) vs. Xavier Musketeers (8-1)
December 11, 2021 8:30 pm EDT
The Line: Xavier Musketeers -7.5 / Over/Under: -131.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Cincinnati Bearcats and Xavier Musketeers face off on Saturday in a college basketball showdown at the Cintas Center. When these two teams faced off in December of 2020 it was Xavier 77-69.
Cincinnati comes into this game with a 7-2 record overall and they have gone 3-4-2 against the spread. Even though they have a solid record, they haven’t been all that dominant. Two games ago against the Miami Redhawks the offense could only manage 59 points and that led to the one-point defeat. Cincinnati is averaging 70.6 points while their defense is giving up 58.1 points per game. The top player for the Bearcats is David DeJulius and he is averaging 13 points while shooting 40.6 percent from the field. There are only two players who are averaging in double figures.
On the other side of this matchup is Xavier who sits with an 8-1 record and they have gone 7-2 against the spread. In the last game against Ball State he put up 96 points and that led to the 46 point victory. Xavier is averaging 75 points while their defense is giving up 59.8 points per game. The only loss for Xavier came a few games ago Iowa State and the defense really struggled in that game giving up 82 points. Guard Nate Johnson has been the best player for Xavier averaging 14.6 points while shooting 53.5 percent from the field and 49.1 percent from behind the three point line.
Xavier is 5-0 against the spread in their last five home games. Cincinnati is 0-3-1 against the spread in their last four games overall. The under is 6-0 in Cincinnati’s last six games overall. The under is 5-0 in the Bearcats last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. The over is 4-0 in Musketeers last 4 games following a straight-up win of more than 20 points.
Xavier is the much better team, and Cincinnati has struggled against some teams they should have never struggled against. Look for Xavier’s defense to slow down the Bearcats and that will be the difference in this game. Back Xavier against the spread.
