Depaul Blue Demons vs Xavier Musketeers Picks and Predictions January 11th 2025

DePaul Blue Demons vs Xavier Musketeers January 11th 2025

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Musketeers and Blue Demons. The game is starting at 4:00 ET on FS1, and it’s hosted by the Blue Demons at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. Get ready to place your bets! Xavier is favored by -5.5 in this Big East conference showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 151.5 points.

Sign Up!

Musketeers vs. Blue Demons Key Information

• Sport: CBB
• Teams: Xavier Musketeers at DePaul Blue Demons
• Where: Chicago at Wintrust Arena
• Date: Saturday, January 11th
• Betting Odds XAV -5.5, XAV -225 | DEPAUL +181 O/U 151.5

The Musketeers Can Win If…

Xavier dropped to 9-7 on the season after an 82-72 home loss to St. John’s on Tuesday. The Musketeers entered the game as +1.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread.

Xavier trailed 41-37 at halftime and couldn’t close the gap, scoring 35 points in the 2nd half while allowing 41. The game’s total points of 154 went over the pre-game O/U line of 152.5.

Xavier’s offense struggled from the field in their last game, shooting just 36.7% overall and 22.2% from three-point range, hitting only 4 of 18 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 40%, but they excelled at the free-throw line, making 24 of 25 shots for a 96% success rate.

Despite their shooting woes, the Musketeers dished out 19 assists, with Dayvion McKnight leading the way with 8. Zach Freemantle scored 22 points, while Zuby Ejiofor and RJ Luis Jr. each added 18, with Ejiofor also grabbing 12 rebounds.

Despite holding their opponent to just 36% shooting from the field, the Xavier Musketeers couldn’t keep them off the free-throw line, where they allowed 24 points on 25 attempts. Xavier’s defense did manage to limit damage from beyond the arc, with their opponent shooting only 22% on 4/18 three-point attempts.

Inside the arc, Xavier’s opponent shot 42%, converting 18 of their 42 two-point attempts. The Musketeers also gave up 7 offensive rebounds in the game.

• Across their ten previous road games, Xavier has an ATS mark of 4-6. Their straight up record in these matchups was 3-7 while averaging 74 points per game.
• As the betting favorite, the Musketeers have an ATS record of 3-2 in their last five games. In these matchups their, straight up record was 5-0.
• Over their last five games, the Musketeers have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 3-2 vs. the spread.

The Blue Demons Can Win If…

DePaul’s season record dropped to 9-7 after an 85-80 loss to Seton Hall on Wednesday. The Blue Demons entered the game as +2.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 165 exceeded the O/U line of 133.5.

DePaul seemed poised for an upset after leading 41-26 at halftime, but they struggled in the 2nd half, scoring just 27 points while allowing 42.

DePaul’s offense put up 80 points in their last game, shooting 42.6% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 52.5%. They connected on 13 of 35 three-point attempts, shooting 37.1% from deep, and hit 50% of their two-point shots. At the free-throw line, they made 15 of 19 attempts, good for 78.9%.

Isaiah Coleman and Dylan Addae-Wusu each scored 24 points, with Addae-Wusu adding 7 assists. Both players hit 4 threes, with Addae-Wusu shooting 5 of 9 from deep. CJ Gunn also made 5 threes, finishing with 21 points, while Troy D’Amico hit 4 of 5 from beyond the arc, scoring 18 points on 5 of 6 shooting overall.

DePaul’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 85 points on 52% shooting from the field. They allowed 29 made field goals on 55 attempts.

The Blue Demons gave up 11 threes, with their opponent shooting 50% from beyond the arc. DePaul also sent them to the free-throw line 22 times, where they made 16 free throws.

• In their last five games at home, the Blue Demons have a straight up record of 0-5 while going 0-5 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 64 points per game in these contests.
• The last ten games that DePaul was the underdog, they have an ATS mark of 2-8 while going 0-10 straight up.
• In their last five games, the Blue Demons have an over/under record of 4-1 and are 3-2 vs. the spread.

The Lean

The Blue Demons come in as the underdog at +5.5, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 151.5 and our model has the Musketeers and Blue Demons finishing with a combined 145 points. Our pick is to take the under.

Daily College Basketball Picks

DePaul Aims to End Big East Woes While Hosting Struggling Xavier

DePaul’s Big East journey has been a rocky road, but recent glimpses of potential could mark the beginning of a turnaround. As the Blue Demons prepare to host Xavier in Chicago this Saturday, both teams find themselves desperate to secure a morale-boosting conference win.

Troy D’Amico Shines Amid DePaul’s Struggles

DePaul (9-7, 0-5 Big East) is grappling with a 37-game Big East regular-season losing streak, dating back to their January 2023 victory over Xavier. Despite the ongoing frustration, Wednesday’s game against Seton Hall offered a bright spot. Southern Illinois transfer Troy D’Amico delivered a career-high performance, scoring 18 points and sinking four three-pointers in an 85-80 overtime loss.

“Even when I don’t score a lot, points are not my deciding factor in whether I have a good game or not,” D’Amico said. “But for sure, after a game like this, it’s going to help my confidence.”

DePaul built a 19-point second-half lead and was up by 11 with just over four minutes left, only to falter in the closing moments. While the loss extended their skid, the game demonstrated that the Blue Demons have the tools to compete; they just need to sustain their performance through the final whistle.

Xavier Searching for Answers

Xavier (9-7, 1-4 Big East) also finds itself in a precarious position. The Musketeers have lost five of their last six games, including an 82-72 defeat at home to St. John’s on Tuesday—a game head coach Sean Miller described as “our low point” of the season.

Rebounding has been a glaring issue for Xavier, as they allowed 20 offensive boards against St. John’s. Miller hinted at potential lineup changes to address the team’s lack of toughness on the glass.

“It’s about making sure that what we’re doing every day matters the most and playing the right guys,” Miller said. “Not allowing guys who don’t play with great effort to have the role that they currently have.”

Elevate your sports betting to the next level

Key Players to Watch

• Troy D’Amico (DePaul): After his breakout game, D’Amico will look to build on his momentum and provide consistent scoring for the Blue Demons.
• Zach Freemantle (Xavier): The Musketeers’ leading scorer had 22 points against St. John’s and remains a reliable offensive presence. However, he’ll need more help from his teammates to avoid another disappointing outing.
• Ryan Conwell (Xavier): Conwell has struggled in recent games, shooting just 1-for-10 from the floor against St. John’s. A bounce-back performance could be pivotal for Xavier’s offense.

What’s at Stake?

For DePaul, breaking the Big East losing streak is a psychological hurdle they must overcome to regain their confidence. The Blue Demons showed they can compete against tough opponents, but they must close out games to turn potential into results.

Xavier, on the other hand, is eager to halt its own slide and avoid slipping further down the Big East standings. Improved rebounding and a more balanced offensive effort are essential if the Musketeers hope to emerge victorious.

Keys to Victory

DePaul:

1. Maintain composure in the final minutes to avoid late-game collapses.
2. Continue to leverage D’Amico’s hot hand while spreading the scoring load.

Xavier:

1. Dominate the boards to limit second-chance opportunities for DePaul.
2. Get consistent production from key contributors like Conwell and Freemantle.

The Road Ahead

Both teams have had difficult seasons, but Saturday’s matchup provides an opportunity for redemption. Whether DePaul can finally end their Big East drought or Xavier can steady their ship remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the game will be a hard-fought battle between two programs hungry for a win.