The Marquette Golden Eagles (7-13, 2-7 Big East) head into Friday’s Big East game against the Butler Bulldogs (12-7, 3-5 Big East) looking to get a second win in a row. Butler aims to build on two straight victories and solid home form. Both of these teams are below .500 in Big East play so far this season and will try to get a win to help themselves in the league standings as February approaches. Here, I break down this contest and bring you my Marquette vs Butler prediction in college hoops.
Our Marquette vs Butler Pick
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 2/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Marquette Golden Eagles @ Butler Bulldogs
- Date & Time: Friday, January 23, 2026, 8:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Broadcast: FS1
Key Storylines
Butler welcomes Marquette after a strong 87-80 victory over DePaul in which Finley Bizjack scored 24 points and the Bulldogs shot nearly 57% from the field. That was their second-best shooting performance of the season. Butler enters this game with solid home numbers, going 8-3 at Hinkle Fieldhouse, and ranks high in rebounding within the Big East. The Bulldogs are anchored by Michael Ajayi’s consistent presence on the boards. Bizjack, a key offensive catalyst, ranks second in the conference in scoring and is an efficient free-throw shooter, making his late-game production a crucial factor for Butler’s success in the last two games.
Marquette is coming off an emotional 105-104 overtime win over Providence. Nigel James Jr. exploded for 38 points and eight assists in that contest, showcasing his ability to take over offensively. Chase Ross has also been a reliable scorer, averaging over 15 points per game. Despite that, Marquette has struggled to find consistency and has a 2-7 record in conference play. The Eagles have yet to win a true road game for the year and they will try to rectify that in this matchup.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- Marquette is 16-14 all-time against Butler on the basketball court.
- Marquette has won three straight games and six of their last seven matchups with Butler.
- Marquette is just 4-15-1 against the spread so far this season.
- Butler holds a 10-9 record against the spread entering Friday night.
- The Bulldogs are 9-9-1 in the over/under market so far this year.
- Marquette is 11-9 to the over through their first 20 games of the season.


