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WUNDERDOG CBB 275-224 Last 499 picks +$3590 1 OF 9 Game: Western Kentucky at Southern Illinois (8:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: Western Kentucky +7 (-110)
These programs both came into prominence with impressive NCAA Tournament runs, but they have also both struggled to regain the magic. The Salukis once dominant home court where they seldom lost, but have since become a non-factor as they are a dismal 1-7 here in their last eight. The Hilltoppers, after a pair of games with VCU, along with games vs. LSU, and Tulsa, have rebounded with two wins in their last three, losing only to unbeaten Murray State. This one looks like it is coming down to the wire and I like the points, especially on a Western Kentucky team that is 9-2 ATS vs. weak home teams that are under .400 on their own court. The Salukis once dominating home court has been reduced to 1-7 ATS in their last eight. Western Kentucky is the play in this one.
Xavier Musketeers vs. Butler Bulldogs
The A10 squares off against the Horizon League on the college hardwood Wednesday night when the eighth ranked Xavier Musketeers invade Hinkle Fieldhouse to post-up the Butler Bulldogs; ESPN & ESPN3.com will cover the game live starting at 9:00 ET.
The Musketeers have stormed out to a perfect 6-0 SU record after battling back from a 19 point deficit to pull out the 66-63 win against the Purdue Boilermakers last Saturday. Though Xavier failed to cover the 3.5-point spread, it’s a win that will shine upon the team brightly come selection Sunday. Guard Tu Holloway was one of four double-digit scorers for the Muskie’s scoring a game-high 21 points which included three straight bombs from beyond the arc in the game’s closing moments. Xavier already has an overtime win at Vanderbilt under its belt to check in 1-0 SU & ATS in true road games to date. Head coach Chris Mack's squad is a very balanced unit scoring an average of 74.0 PPG (#84) while limiting the opposition to just 62.5 PPG (#90). They've been deadly from downtown converting at a 43.0 percent clip (#18), and have outrebounded their opponents by 7.5 RPG (#30). The Musketeers have covered each of their last six away from the Cintas Center.
Do not make the mistake of thinking the 2011-12 Butler Bulldogs are the same Cinderella team that went on to play in the championship game of the last two NCAA Tournaments. Gone are Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard and along with them is a bevy of experience that this year's squad has failed to exhibit. To date, the Bulldogs have split each of their eight games played and failed to cover their five lined games. Most recently, Butler fell at home to Valparaiso 77-71 in overtime. The loss was the second extra session loss incurred this season after they fell at Evansville 80-77 in their season opener. While the defense has limited the opposition to 63.5 PPG (#107), head coach Brad Stevens’ squad has been atrocious at the offensive end of the court where they’ve scored an average of just 67.5 PPG (#196) and converted at a 40.8 percent clip from the field (#258). Butler’s 3-1-1 ATS its L/5 against the Atlantic 10.
These teams have met in the regular season each of the last three years. Xavier squeaked out the 51-49 win last year ultimately pushing the closing pointspread (-2) to halt the Bulldogs two-game win streak in the recent series. Though the Musketeers are 6-2 ATS their L/8 following a pointspread defeat, they're just 3-10-1 ATS their last 14 non-conference games. Butler has compiled a tremendous 57-28-2 ATS tally in its last 87 non-conference clashes, but has failed to cover each of its last four against +.500 opposition. PICK: Xavier/Butler UNDER
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