Connecticut
Xavier vs. Connecticut (UCONN) Prediction, Preview, and Odds – 1-28-2024
Free Daily NCAAB Lock Pick, Saturday January 27th: Northwestern vs Ohio State 8:30pm ET
CLICK TO SEE PICK NOW
The Xavier Musketeers will face the Connecticut Huskies on Sunday at XL Center. Tip-off between the Big East foes is at noon ET.
Xavier (10-9 SU, 12-6 ATS, and 10-8 O/U) lost 85-78 to Creighton on Tuesday. The Musketeers are 4-4 in Big East play this season.
UConn (17-2 SU, 11-8 ATS, and 9-9-1 O/U) beat Villanova 66-65 last Saturday. The Huskies lead the conference with a 7-1 record.
Connecticut beat Xavier 80-75 on January 10. The Huskies shot 54.4 percent from the field and held the Musketeers to 35.9 percent. UConn missed half of its free-throw attempts and was outrebounded 42-30, helping Xavier stick around. Still, the Huskies never relented. They led by as many as 14 points and never trailed by more than one point.
Get to Know Me!
Michael Briggs is your trusted handicapper at Winners and Whiners! My best bet and season subscription packages are up for grabs on my premium package page. I have been offering exclusive free NCAAB predictions all season! Don’t miss out — you can keep in the loop on Twitter!
Can Xavier find its groove in Hartford?
Xavier’s three-game winning streak came to an end on the road at Creighton, as the Musketeers shot only 40.8 percent from the field. The Blue Jays knocked down 28 of their 57 field goals (49.1%), including 11 of their 28 three-point attempts (39.3%). Sophomore guard Desmond Claude led the Musketeers in scoring with 20 points on 7-for-23 shooting.
Xavier scores 76.8 points per game (113th) on 44.2 percent shooting (214th), including 35.1 percent from three-point distance (127th). It converts 73.4 percent of its free-throw attempts (99th) and averages 35.9 rebounds (50th), 16.8 assists (22nd), and 11.6 turnovers (135th) per game.
The Musketeers give up 71.7 points per game (178th) on 40.8 percent shooting (54th), including 32.2 percent from deep (117th), with 33.4 rebounds per game (273rd). Xavier averages 3.9 blocks (98th), 6.7 steals (142nd), and 17.4 fouls (216th) per game.
KenPom ranks Xavier 34th nationally. The Musketeers are 48th in offensive efficiency, 36th in defensive efficiency, and 60th in tempo (schedule-adjusted).
The top online sportsbooks offer generous bonus codes that can expand the amount of money a user can win from their wagers.
Can UConn hold onto the #1 ranking?
Connecticut outlasted Villanova on the road last weekend despite shooting only 40 percent from the field, including 29 percent from long range. UConn had 21 fast break points and knocked down 18 of 24 free-throw attempts.
The Huskies give up 81.1 points per game (44th) on 49.4 percent shooting (15th), including 35.1 percent from three-point distance (124th). They convert 72.9 percent of their foul shots (115th) and average 34.8 rebounds (88th), 17.9 assists (13th), and 10.3 turnovers (41st) per game.
Connecticut gives up 64.6 points per game (31st), and its opponents shoot 39.9 percent (31st), including 33.1 percent from beyond the arc (178th), with 25.4 rebounds per game (2nd). UConn averages 5.4 blocks (14th), 6.3 steals (198th), and 17.0 fouls (170th) per game.
KenPom ranks Connecticut 7th in the nation. The Huskies are 3rd in offensive efficiency, 28th in defensive efficiency, and 331st in tempo (schedule-adjusted).
Want more college basketball winners? Check out our Expert Picks!
Saturday’s Top Plays
Today’s Top Plays
Scott Steehn – 12-0 CBB Run – Snatch Up Scott’s CBB MONSTER Best Bet For just $29 – CLICK HERE
Mason Folz – 16-3 NBA Run – Grab Mason’s Saturday NBA Play Of The Day For just $29 – CLICK HERE
David Hess – 5-1 CBB Run – Snag David’s Saturday CBB Totals Annihilator For Just $29 – CLICK HERE
ASA Sports -10-1 NBA Run – Grab ASA’s NBA Play Of The Month For Just $35 – CLICK HERE
Ben Hayes – 10-4 CBB Run – Snag Ben’s Saturday CBB Best Bet For Just $29 – CLICK HERE
Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
Rating:
I’m placing a four-unit wager on Xavier, 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games, to cover the spread on Sunday afternoon at UConn. The Huskies barely squeezed out a win in the last meeting between these teams despite a poor shooting performance by the Musketeers. It will take more than that to win and cover, as the Musketeers are desperate for a win after losing three straight games.
Connecticut will have its work cut defending the perimeter, as Xavier stars Quincy Olivari (42.9 3PT%) and Dayvion McKnight (38.1 3PT%) are threats from deep. On the other end of the court, Xavier’s interior defense will challenge UConn center Donovan Clingan all game. The Musketeers hold their opponents to 51.9 percent at the rim and block nearly 14 percent of their rim shot attempts.
Prediction: Xavier covers
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Rating:
The first meeting between these teams went over, as they combined for 155 points. Xavier shot 36 percent overall in that game, but outrebounded the Huskies 42-30, collecting 20 offensive rebounds. While Clingan was unavailable in that game, I still expect the Musketeers (15th in total rebounds) to battle for offensive rebounds, earning crucial extra possessions. UConn is much slower tempo than Xavier, so second-chance opportunities will likely determine whether the over has a shot at cashing.
I predict a competitive, back-and-forth game between these Big East foes tomorrow. That will result in the sixth straight over in Musketeers games.
Prediction: Over
Connecticut
Multiple cars involved in crash on I-84 in Hartford
A multi-vehicle crash temporarily close Interstate 84 on Tuesday night.
The crash happened around 8:30 p.m. and involved four cars, according to the Hartford Fire Department.
Fire crews arrived at the scene and helped one of the drivers who was trapped. The driver was then taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Four other people reported minor injuries but declined ambulance treatment at the scene, officials said.
I-84 East was temporarily shut down as crews responded but has since reopened.
The Connecticut State Police is investigating the crash.
Connecticut
Sleet, freezing rain leading to treacherous travel in parts of Connecticut
As the snow turns to sleet and freezing rain in parts of the state this afternoon, it is causing some treacherous travel on Connecticut roads.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is reporting several crashes.
There are crashes on both sides of Interstate 691 in Meriden.
A tractor-trailer jackknifed on the eastbound side of I-691 between Exit 5 and 3, closing the left lane. On the westbound side, a single-vehicle crash closed the left lane.
There is a two-vehicle crash on I-91 North in Middletown between Exits 20 and 21. The left and center lanes are closed.
A multi-vehicle crash has closed lanes of I-84 East in Waterbury between Exits 25 and 25A. There is a second crash on I-84 East in Southington near Exit 30.
In Cromwell, a two-vehicle crash closed the right lane of Route 9 North in Cromwell.
On Route 9 South, a crash closed a lane on the southbound side.
Connecticut
The Great Westport Sandwich Contest kicks off with event at Old Mill Grocery
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce held a kick-off event at Old Mill Grocery on Monday for The Great Westport Sandwich Contest.
The contest runs throughout March with 21 restaurants, delis and markets competing in 10 categories to be crowned the best sandwich maker.
Residents can vote in the following categories: Best chicken, best steak, best vegetarian, best combo, best club, best NY deli, best pressed sandwich, best breakfast sandwich, best wrap, and best fish/seafood sandwich.
After people sample sandwiches, they can vote for their favorites in each category on the chamber’s website. They will also be placed into a drawing to win a free sandwich from one of the 10 winners.
“Of course, the goal is to have people come to Westport and check out restaurants, our markets and our delis. This is a great promotion. I mean it is a competition, but mostly it’s to bring people to the restaurants. It also gives a great community activity because they are the ones who get to vote who makes the best one,” says Matthew Mandell, the chamber’s executive director.
Winners will be announced in April and receive a plaque.
The chamber has held similar contests to determine what establishment has the best pizza, burger, soup and salad.
-
World6 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts7 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Denver, CO7 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Louisiana1 week agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Oregon5 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling
-
Florida3 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Maryland3 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Culture1 week agoTry This Quiz on Thrilling Books That Became Popular Movies