Xavier vs. Texas Picks, Predictions, Odds

Sean Miller has done an excellent job with the Xavier Musketeers. In his first year back with the program, he has made Xavier into a force to be reckoned with once more. This is the third time that he has taken the Musketeers to the Sweet 16, and they are hoping they can make their first Final Four appearance in school history. To do that, Xavier will need to get past the Texas Longhorns in the final Sweet 16 game on Friday night. The winner will face either Houston or Miami (FL) in the Midwest Regional Final on Sunday night.

On Friday, March 24, 2023, the Xavier Musketeers will take on the Texas Longhorns in the final Sweet 16 game before the Elite Eight starts on Saturday. This game will be played at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri with tip off slated for 9:45 p.m. ET on CBS.

Xavier Musketeers vs. Texas Longhorns Betting Prediction

It's been really impressive to watch the Xavier Musketeers continue to succeed despite the absence of Zach Freemantle. Many observers (myself included) thought that Xavier would have a tough time without Freemantle on the court, but they ended up reaching the Big East Championship Game. Texas has overcome an absence in its own right as the Longhorns circled the wagons after Chris Beard was fired, and they have continued to play well under Rodney Perry. The Longhorns are favored in this game, but this feels like a true toss-up so I'll happily take the Musketeers and the points.

Best Bet: Xavier +4 (-110)
Score Prediction: Xavier 75, Texas 73

Xavier Musketeers vs. Texas Longhorns Betting Odds

Xavier Musketeers vs. Texas Longhorns Betting Resources

Date: Friday, Mar. 24, 2023
TV-Time: CBS, 9:45 p.m. ET
Venue: T-Mobile Center
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Matchup
Expert Picks

Xavier Musketeers vs. Texas Longhorns Betting Stats

Xavier Musketeers
SU: 27-9
ATS: 19-16-1
O/U: 22-13-1
PPG: 81.2
OPPG: 73.8

Texas Longhorns
SU: 28-8
ATS: 18-17-1
O/U: 17-19
PPG: 77.8
OPPG: 67.2

Straight Up (SU), Against the Spread (ATS), Over-Under (O/U)
Points Per Game (PPG), Opponents Points Per Game (OPPG)

Xavier Musketeers Betting Analysis

The Musketeers are one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country. Xavier is collectively making 38.9% of its three-point attempts, and that ranks third nationally in the stat. This isn't merely an offense that lives and dies by the three though. This offense ranks seventh nationally, and the Musketeers are very efficient whenever they have the ball in their hands.

Souley Boum is a very effective shooter and leads the way in scoring with 16.5 PPG for the Musketeers. Boum is making 44.2% of his field goals and 40.8% of his three-point field goals. He is also very well-rounded and is averaging 4.4 RPG and 4.3 APG. Xavier has needed him to step up after Freemantle went down, and Boum has done just that.

Center Jack Nunge has been great too for the Musketeers. Nunge has probably had the most on his plate since Xavier doesn't have a ton of size. However, he is averaging 14.1 PPG and 7.7 RPG, and he has shown himself to be a defensive presence while making over 40% of his threes.

Defense is the big issue for Xavier. The Musketeers are allowing opponents to make 35.5% of their triples, and they don't force a lot of turnovers. They have a lot of length which is good against Texas, and they do a pretty good job of preventing second chance rebounds.

Texas Longhorns Betting Analysis

The Longhorns have the 15th best offense in the country according to Ken Pomeroy. They don't shoot the three particularly well aside from the sparingly used Brock Cunningham, but Marcus Carr does a pretty decent job as the leading scorer for Texas. Carr is averaging 15.8 PPG to lead the way, and he is also tops on the team with 4.0 APG and 1.7 SPG. He is making 36.3% of his threes, and second-leading scorer Sir'Jabari Rice is making 36.4% of his threes.

Carr and Rice are two of the four seniors in the starting lineup. Timmy Allen and Dylan Disu are the other two senior starters for Texas, and they bring the size as the top two rebounders on the team. Allen is making 50.8% of his two-point field goals, while Disu is making a whopping 66.5% of his twos. Unfortunately for the Longhorns, they leave something to be desired when it comes to rebounding as Texas ranked in the bottom half of the country in offensive and defensive rebounding.

Texas has the 10th ranked defense in the country according to Pomeroy. The Longhorns force a lot of turnovers, ranking in the top 20 in that department with Carr, Cunningham, and Tyrese Hunter helping out in this regard. They are holding opponents to 32.3% shooting from beyond the three-point line, and the interior defense is even better.