Kent State vs. Xavier Pick
Can No. 13 Xavier handle covering a big spread at home when the Musketeers take on Kent State tonight at 7PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Xavier is favored at home, as the Musketeers are getting odds of -23 points against Kent State. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 155 points. Tonight’s game takes place from the Cintras Center in Cincinnati, Ohio and will air live on FS1.
Xavier is coming off an 89-76 win over Cincinnati last weekend to improve to 7-1 on the season. The Musketeers are also 7-1 against the spread, covering in every home game. Xavier is putting up 89 points per game while allowing just 69.9 points per contest. Trevon Bluiett is leading the team with 20.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while J.P. Macura is adding 13.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per contest.
Kent State is coming off a 72-62 win over Cleveland State last weekend to improve to 5-3 on the season. The Golden Flashes are just 2-2 against the spread. Kent State is averaging 76.4 points per game while allowing 71.3 per contest. Jaylin Walker is leading Kent State with 17.7 points per game, but he is questionable to play tonight due to an ankle injury. Adonis De La Rosa is adding 14.1 points and 8 rebounds per game.
Xavier has won all five meetings with Kent State since 2000, covering the spread in three of those five victories. Xavier has looked good at home and the Musketeers are 10-2 against the spread in their last 12 games following a win. Kent State could be without its top player. Even if Walker is able to play, he’s not likely to be at 100 percent. He is a big piece of that team and I don’t see the Flashes being able to compete without him. The public betting is siding with Xavier tonight and I agree.
CBB DAILY PREDICTION: XAVIER -23