Marquette vs. Xavier Prediction, Odds & Score Picks: Big East Quarterfinal Best Bets

Xavier looks to boost its NCAA Tournament hopes with a crucial win over Marquette today.

Both teams make their Big East Tournament debut today, but despite being the higher seed, the Musketeers enter as 1.5 to 2.5-point underdogs. Xavier also has more at stake, needing a win to strengthen its case for the Big Dance.

Check out our Marquette vs. Xavier prediction, odds, and expert picks for this Big East quarterfinal matchup. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m. ET (Peacock) at Madison Square Garden. The teams split their regular-season series, each winning by two points at home.

📈 Marquette vs. Xavier odds movement

Marquette opened as a 2.5-point favorite against Xavier with the line at our best sports betting apps not seeing much movement as tip approaches. The public is backing the lower-seeded Golden Eagles to cover, too, with 58% of bettors on Marquette.

💰 Marquette vs. Xavier predictions, expert picks & best bets: Big East quarterfinal

Here are my best Marquette vs. Xavier predictions, expert picks, and best bets today for Big East quarterfinal with my pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale. Be sure to check out the rest of our college basketball picks along with our guide on how to bet on college basketball.

• Against the spread pick: Xavier +2 (-110 via bet365) vs. Marquette ⭐⭐⭐
• My best player prop bet: Zach Freemantle Over 16.5 points (-130 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Exact score prediction: Xavier 71, Marquette 69 (+17000 via DraftKings)

👉 Check out our latest March Madness projections with our SBR Bracketology ahead of the NCAA Tournament!

🏀 Marquette vs. Xavier ATS prediction & best player prop bet pick

Here's why I'm betting on Xavier to cover the spread (+2) while targeting Zach Freemantle Over 16.5 points as my best player prop bet pick for today:

✅ Xavier to cover the spread (+2) ⭐⭐⭐

The Musketeers are so hot entering this game that it’s hard to justify betting against them. They’ve won seven games in a row, and though none of those games were against ranked opponents, Marquette being ranked 25th entering this matchup doesn’t scare me.

The Golden Eagles have lost two in a row and three of their last five. After starting the season 18-3, they’ve sputtered down the stretch, going just 4-6 in their last 10. Though they beat the Musketeers once this season, the win was far from impressive.

These two teams are as evenly matched as it gets, but the Musketeers are the hotter team and more desperate than the Golden Eagles. Look for Golden Eagles to struggle in this game just like they did at the end of the regular season, as they enter March Madness on a three-game losing streak.

📊 Best odds: -110 via bet365 (bet $10 to win $9.09)

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🔥 Zach Freemantle Over 16.5 points ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A lot of the Musketeers’ success down the stretch has been thanks to the incredible play of Freemantle. The team’s leading scorer is averaging 17.4 points per game this season, and he’s scored at least 23 points in three consecutive games. He played in only one game against the Golden Eagles this season, and he managed just 14 points in that contest. However, Xavier scored just 59 in that game, so he still accounted for nearly 25% of their points.

Freemantle has scored at least 17 points in seven of his last nine games, and though the Golden Eagles are allowing just 67.6 points per game, they’ve allowed at least 72 in back-to-back contests. This isn’t a great matchup, but Freemantle is whom this offense runs through, and considering the Golden Eagles haven’t been sharp of late, I expect him to exceed his season average today.

📊 Best odds: -130 via BetMGM (bet $10 to win $7.69)

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🎯 Expert Marquette vs. Xavier score prediction

🔮 Expert score prediction: Xavier 71, Marquette 69

The first two games these teams played against each other were decided by two points, and I expect the same result today. These are two evenly matched programs, and though the Musketeers are playing much better right now, the Golden Eagles ended the regular season going toe to toe with St. John’s, one of the best teams in the country.

Ultimately, the Musketeers will find a way to pick up their eighth consecutive win, though it won’t be easy. I expect the defenses to have the advantage in this game, as both teams score well below their season averages for the third time against each other.

📊 Best odds: +17000 via DraftKings (bet $10 to win $1,700)

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📊 Live Marquette vs. Xavier odds & latest betting splits

Here are the latest odds for Marquette vs. Xavier which update live in real time. You can also check out our NEW college basketball player prop odds tool for the latest college basketball odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your region.

🔢 Marquette vs. Xavier opening odds

Here's a look at the opening odds for Marquette vs. Xavier according to BetMGM.

• Spread: Marquette -2.5 (-115) | Xavier +2.5 (-105)
• Moneyline: Marquette -160 | Xavier +135
• Over/Under: Over 145.5 (-110) | Under 145.5 (-110)

🏆 Who will win Marquette vs. Xavier?

As of Thursday morning, Marquette is favored by 1.5 points to beat Xavier with moneyline odds of -135 at BetMGM, which suggest a 57.45% win probability for the Golden Eagles. We're predicting a 71-69 win for Xavier as our final score projection.

So far, 61% of bettors have wagered against the spread on Marquette -1.5, while 61% of bettors expect the game to finish Over the projected total of 144.5 points.

📺 How to watch Marquette vs. Xavier today

📅 Date: Thursday, March 13
🕗 Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
📍 Location: Madison Square Garden (New York)
📺 TV: None
💻 Streaming: Peacock

❓ Marquette vs. Xavier FAQs

Who's favored to win the Big East tournament?

The St. John’s Red Storm are favored to win the Big East tournament.

Who is favored to win Marquette vs. Xavier?

The Golden Eagles are favored with moneyline odds of -135, suggesting they have a greater than 57% chance of winning this game. 

What are the betting odds for Marquette vs. Xavier?

The latest spread is Marquette -1.5 (-115) | Xavier +1.5 (-115), with a total of 144.5 points (-105).

What will be the final score of Marquette vs. Xavier?

We're predicting a final score of Xavier 71, Marquette 69 entering tonight's matchup at Madison Square Garden.

What time is Marquette vs. Xavier tonight?

Marquette vs. Xavier will tip off today at 2:30 p.m. ET.

⛹️ Best college basketball betting sites

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