Butler at UConn odds, picks and predictions
The Butler Bulldogs (15-7, 6-5 Big East) and the No. 1 UConn Huskies (20-2, 10-1) put their respective winning streaks on the line Tuesday in Hartford. Tip-off at XL Center is scheduled for 8:30 pm ET (FS1). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Butler vs. UConnodds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
After a 2-5 start to Big East play, Butler enters the matchup winners of its last 4 games. UConn's only loss in conference play was in its Big East opener back on Dec. 20 at Seton Hall. Since that 15-point loss (75-60), the Huskies have reeled off 10 straight victories. One of those wins was Jan. 5 at Hinkle Fieldhouse over Butler 88-81 as 5-point road favorites. Butler senior G DJ Davis led the game with 22 points in a losing effort.
The Huskies are atop a number of statistical categories in the Big East, including lowest points allowed per game (64.2), field-goal percentage (49.4%) and blocks per game (5.4). Butler is the top scoring offense in the conference, averaging 81.6 points per game with UConn right behind at 81.4 PPG.
- Rankings courtesy of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
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Butler at UConn odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:54 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Butler +890 (bet $100 to win $890) | UConn -1700 (bet $1,700 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Butler +14.5 (-102) | UConn -14.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 146.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Butler at UConn picks and predictions
Prediction
UConn 84, Butler 74
Moneyline
INCLUDE UCONN (-1700) IN A ML PARLAY.
No way I'm laying that much juice on the Huskies moneyline, so we need some legs for a parlay. I like pairing UCONN (-1700) with ST. JOHN'S (-7000), which hosts DePaul, No. 13 BAYLOR (-240) at home vs No. 23 Texas Tech, and to round out the evening, No. 24 SAN DIEGO STATE (-490) at Air Force. Odds on this 4-leg ML parlay come out to -121.
UConn is such a strong team that despite their leading scorer G Tristen Newton going 1-for-8 from 3-point range in the last matchup vs. Butler, the Huskies were able to get a win and cover. C Donovan Clingan missed that 1st matchup as well, and while he has been plagued by foul trouble lately, the 7-foot-2 big is a force down low. Connecticut allows the least number of defensive rebounds per game in the country (18.0), according to Teamrankings.com, and if the sophomore big can stay on the floor, Butler will have an even tougher time crashing the boards.
Against the spread
BACK BUTLER +14.5 (-102).
That's a lot of points for UConn to be laying, even at home. St. John's, who has a sub-.500 record in conference play, kept it a 2-possession game against the Huskies Saturday with just under 10 minutes to play -- UConn won 77-64 as a 3.5-point road favorite.
Expect Butler to be able to keep it closer much later into this Tuesday night showdown.
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Over/Under
PASS.
Based on the aforementioned score prediction, the lean is certainly to the Over. However, UConn plays at the slowest pace in the Big East (68.7 possessions per game), and on the road, Butler averages 2.6 possessions less this season rather than at home.
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