Providence vs Xavier Prediction 3/8/25 College Basketball Picks

The Providence Friars are visiting the Xavier Musketeers on Saturday, March 8th at the Cintas Center, in this Big East Conference matchup. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Providence Friars vs Xavier Musketeers Prediction. We will examine:

The Xavier Musketeers’ recent form and player performance

The Providence Friars’ recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Xavier Musketeers

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Providence Friars

Recent betting trends in games played between the Providence Friars and Xavier Musketeers

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Providence Friars vs Xavier Musketeers game

Xavier Musketeers Preview

The Xavier Musketeers have a 20-10 record this season and are sitting in 5th place in the Big East. Xavier is coming off a 91-78 win over Butler. The Musketeers are 17-13 against the spread, and 14-15-1 in over/under, while having a 14-2 home record.

Offensively, Xavier is averaging 77.3 points per game, which ranks 91st in the nation. Defensively, they allow 70.1 points per game (129th). The Musketeers shoot 46.3% from the field (102nd) and 38.7% from beyond the arc, which is the 10th-best in the nation. The Musketeers shoot 79% from the free throw line, which is the 9th-best nationally, and are grabbing 33.6 rebounds per game (280th).

Zach Freemantle leads Xavier in scoring this season, with an average of 17.1 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds, while Ryan Conwell adds 16 points per game.

Providence Friars Preview

The Providence Friars have a 12-18 record this season and are tied with Georgetown for 8th place in the Big East. Providence is coming off a 77-80 loss to DePaul. The Friars are 13-17 against the spread, and 16-13-1 in over/under, while having a 2-8 road record. 

Offensively, Providence is averaging 71.5 points per game, which ranks 253rd in the nation. Defensively, they allow 72.3 points per game (192nd). The Friars shoot 44.2% from the field (218th) and 35.7% from beyond the arc (81st). The Friars shoot 69.3% from the free-throw line (282nd) and are grabbing 36.8 rebounds per game (99th).

Jayden Pierre leads Providence in scoring with an average of 12.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and a team-high 3.1 assists, while Bensley Joseph adds 12.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game.

Why the Xavier Musketeers will win

• Xavier has won each of its last 11 day games at Cintas Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Providence has lost eight of its last nine games.
• Xavier has won the first half in each of its last 10 day games at Cintas Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Why the Providence Friars will win

• The road team has won each of the last four games between Providence and Xavier.
• The road team has won the first half in three of the last four games between Providence and Xavier.

Total Points Facts

• Fourteen of Providence’s last 15 Saturday road games against the Big East Conference have produced a total of 147 or fewer points.
• Eleven of Xavier’s last 13 day games have produced a total of 148 or fewer points.

Matchup/League Facts

• Xavier ranks 8th among Division 1 teams for free throw percentage this season (79.2%).
• Xavier ranks 13th among Division 1 teams for a three-point percentage this season (38.6%).
• Providence ranks 355th among Division 1 teams for opponent turnovers per game this season (9.3).

Providence Friars vs Xavier Musketeers Prediction

Xavier is 4-1 in their last 5 meetings against Providence and is 3-1 against the spread in their last 4 meetings. Over is 8-2 in their last 10 meetings, and in their previous meeting earlier this season, Xavier won 91-82 on the road, covering the spread, as the game went over the point total.

In this Providence Friars vs Xavier Musketeers Prediction, Xavier is coming as -11.5 home favorite. Xavier is rightfully favored, as they have a better record this season, and have been dominating at home, while Providence has been terrible on the road. In this final game of the regular season, both teams are looking to win in order to get the best placement possible for the upcoming conference tournament. Xavier is red-hot lately, coming off six consecutive wins, and is 5-1 against the spread, while Providence has been struggling mightily, with a 1-8 record in their last 9 games and 0-4 against the spread. Keep it simple, and take the better team, in better form, with the better history against their opponent, playing at home. Take the Xavier Musketeers and lay the points at home.

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Xavier Musketeers -11.5