Anticipated Picks for Xavier's Clash with Texas in the First Four

Alrighty then, let's dive into the nitty-gritty of the NCAA basketball action! The First Four has some firecracker matchups lined up, and we're stoked about the SEC/Big East showdown between the Texas Longhorns and Xavier Musketeers. These teams are battling it out to earn the title of #11 seed and lock horns with the #6 Illinois Fighting Illini in the Midwest Region.

Now, the question on everybody's mind is who's gonna win? A 3-point spread might not be much to go on when it comes to the moneyline, but the real value lies in the total points! Yep, you guessed it; the over/under is set at a tantalizing 151 points. Hear us out; both teams have been racking up points like crazy this season, so let's talk about why you should consider betting on the over.

The Lowdown:

Moneyline: Xavier (-150) vs. Texas (+130)
Spread: Xavier -3
Total: 151

Why Bet on the over?Here's the skinny - both teams have been scoring like there's no tomorrow, and their recent games leading up to the First Four have been no exception. In fact, combined, they're averaging a whopping 156 points per game! But wait, there's more; they're also allowing opponents to light up the scoreboard with over 143 points per game.

When it comes to betting on the over, Texas is your numero uno team in the CBB world. They've gone over the total points in 21 out of their 44 games this season, with an impressive +3.5-point margin on average! In their last 13 games, they've gone over in a sizzling 12 of those. On the other hand, Xavier has gone over in 15 out of their 34 games, with an overall +1 margin on average, and they've been trending over with 10 of their last 13 games hitting the mark.

So, what does all this mean for the First Four battle between the Longhorns and the Musketeers? Well, in recent games, Texas has been going over with 12 out of their last 13 games hitting the mark, while Xavier has gone over in 10 of their last 13. Does that sound like it's going to be an underwhelming game? We deckthink not!

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The Author:Sam's been spinning basketball yarns for the past four years. With a background in sports writing, he's passionate about covering both professional and collegiate hoops (not to mention football!). Graduating summa cum laude from Florida State University with a degree in Editing, Writing and Media, he's also got a minor in Communications under his belt. When he's not watching or playing sports, you can find him gaming or rockin' out to tunes.

The buying and selling of sports outcomes, such as NCAA basketball games, can be done on betting sites, and the upcoming match between the Texas Longhorns and Xavier Musketeers is legal for wagering.
Before placing a bet on this Midwest Region game, it's essential to consider the total points over/under, which is set at 151.
If you're considering a bet on the over, take a closer look at both teams' scoring averages and defensive records - Texas is averaging 156 points per game, while Xavier allows over 143 points per game.
For those considering a bet on the over, Texas has had impressive success this season in exceeding the total points, with a +3.5-point margin on average in the games where they went over.
In their last 13 games, both teams have shown a trend of going over the total points - Texas with 12 wins and Xavier with 10 wins, suggesting a potential high-scoring contest in the First Four.