It will be a battle between Big East opponents when the No. 13 Butler Bulldogs (15-4, 3-3 Big East) welcome the Marquette Golden Eagles (14-5, 4-3 Big East) to Hinkle Fieldhouse. The game starts at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, January 24, 2020.
The Over/Under (O/U) for the game opened at 137 points with Butler set as a 5.5-point favorite at PointsBet.
Marquette Golden Eagles at Butler Bulldogs Free Prediction
The Golden Eagles will be looking for similar success after covering the 8-point spread against the St. John’s Red Storm in their last game, 82-68. The total points for the game (150) finished just over the projected point total of 147.5. One of Marquette’s biggest strengths was getting to the charity stripe. They had 33 free throw attempts, 24 more than St. John’s. With 32 points on 8-for-20 shooting, Markus Howard was the game’s leading scorer.
In the Bulldogs’ previous game, they lost to the No. 9 Villanova Wildcats, 76-61. They were not able to cover as 3.5-point underdogs. The combined points for the game (137) were over the O/U total of 129. One of Villanova’s biggest strengths was their ability to convert at the free throw line. They were 21-23 (91.3 percent), while the Bulldogs were just 4-8 (50.0 percent). With 11 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, Butler’s Bryce Nze had a good performance.
After the Golden Eagles won both matchups against the Bulldogs last season, this will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams. In the last contest, Marquette won 79-69. The Golden Eagles knocked down 14 of their 18 free throws (77.8 percent) and had a better effective field goal percentage (0.570 vs. 0.483).
Marquette comes into the game with records of 14-5 straight up (SU) and 11-8 against the spread (ATS). Of the Golden Eagles’ 19 games, 11 have finished over the projected point total.
Meanwhile, Butler is 15-4 SU and 11-7 ATS. Unlike Marquette, games including the Bulldogs tend to go under the O/U total (55.6 percent).
This matchup pits one of the NCAA’s top offenses against one of its elite defensesButler ranks 56th in effective field goal percentage (0.532), while Marquette is 32nd in effective field goal percentage allowed (0.447).
Marquette at Butler Pick
Basketball Tip: ATS Winner – Marquette, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
On the road, Marquette is 4-4 ATS with 5 overs, 2 unders and 1 push.
Butler is 6-3 ATS at home with 6 unders and 3 overs.
Butler ranks sixth in rebounds allowed per game (29.4) while Marquette ranks 166th (35.8).
The Golden Eagles rank 33rd in blocks per game (4.7) while the Bulldogs rank 151st (2.6).
Marquette averages 25.3 three pointers per game, which ranks 61st in the NCAA. Butler ranks 127th in three pointers allowed per game (21.3).
In its last five outings, Marquette is 3-2 ATS with 4 overs and 1 under.
Butler is 2-3 ATS with 4 overs and 1 under over its last five games.
The Golden Eagles’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 4.6, down from 9.2 for the season.
During their last five games, the Bulldogs have scored an average of 67.6 points per game (0.7 below their season average) and allowed an average of 69.6 points per game (11.5 above their season average).
