Marquette vs. Butler Pick
Can Butler pick up a needed win at home over Marquette when the two Big East foes meet up tonight at 6:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Butler is favored at home in this game, as the Bulldogs are getting odds of -4.5 points against Marquette. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 158.5 points. Tonight’s game takes place from Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana and will air live on FS1.
Butler has dropped three straight since its win over Villanova on Dec. 30. The Bulldogs are coming off an 85-74 loss at Creighton. Butler is 12-6 overall, 2-3 in the Big East and 8-9 against the spread. The Bulldogs are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven. Butler is averaging 80.1 points per game this season while allowing 72.2 per contest. Kelan Martin has been leading Butler with 19.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while Kamar Baldwin is adding 15.3 points per contest.
Marquette is coming off an 84-64 win at home over Seton Hall, its third win in four games. The Golden Eagles are 12-5 overall, 3-2 in the Big East and 8-8 against the spread. They have covered in three straight. Marquette is putting up 83.9 points per game this year while allowing 76 per contest. Markus Howard is leading the team with 22.8 points per game while Andrew Rowsey is adding 21.6 per contest.
Butler has won five of the last six meetings with Marquette, covering the spread in all five wins as well. The Bulldogs are desperate tonight. They can’t afford a fourth straight loss in conference play if they still hope to contend for the season title. Marquette has been pretty good on the road, but their defense gives up 84.3 per game on the road. I like Butler to be able to score on the Eagles and then hold Marquette somewhat limited with its defense. The public betting is behind Butler as well tonight.
CBB DAILY PREDICTION: BUTLER -4.5