South Carolina State vs Xavier Game Information

South Carolina State vs Xavier Preview

South Carolina State (4-4, 1-4 on Road) heads to Cincinnati to face No.22 Xavier (6-1, 5-0 at Home) in a matchup between programs from the MEAC and Big East conferences. The Bulldogs were blown out at Marshall in their last game (82-53) while the Musketeers also lost their last dribble, falling vs Michigan by 25 points (78-53) in a sobering first loss of the year that may jettison Xavier from the Top 25. Before that, the Musketeers had four convincing wins, topping Jacksonville State by 47 (94-57), Wake Forest by 15 (75-60), Southern Illinois at Edwardsville by 25 (90-55), and vs South Carolina by 8 (75-66). The Ken Pomeroy Ratings see SC State ranked at No. 301 with Xavier checking in at No. 57.

South Carolina State Overmatched vs Musketeers

South Carolina State (2-4-0 ATS, 2-4-0 O/U) only has one scorer in double-digits, F Drayton Jones (12.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg), but has a number of guys clumped between 6.0 ppg and 9.3 ppg in G Wilson Dubinsky (9.3 ppg), G Omar Croskey (8.8 ppg), F Davion Everett (6.5 ppg), G Mitchell Taylor (6.5 ppg), G Colin McKenzie (6.1 ppg), and G Florian Tenebay (6.1 ppg). The Bulldogs average 78.3 ppg (#148) while allowing 68.6 and rank tied for No. 219 in Rebounds Per Game (36.3) and are tied for No. 174 in Assists Per Game (14.4), If you can shut Jones down, you should be able to handle South Carolina State.

South Carolina State Betting Trends

• South Carolina State is 2-6-0 ATS in its last 8 games overall
• The Under is 4-1-0 in the Bulldogs last 5 games
• The Bulldogs have been Favorites in 2 of their last 3 and covered ATS in both
• The Bulldogs have played 2 non-lined games (MORIS, VOOR, won both)
• South Carolina State has played 5 straight games on the Road

Xavier Looks to Rebound After Michigan Pasting

No. 22 Xavier (3-4-0 ATS, 1-6-0 O/U) has been a very strong Under team and the Musketeers will need to bounce back after getting pounded by the Big Ten’s Wolverines in their last outing. Xavier is unbeaten at Home in the Cintas Center and are led by G Ryan Conwell (17.6 ppg), F Zach Freemantle (15.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg), G Dayvlon McKnight (11.0 ppg, 4.4 apg), G Dailyn Swain (7.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg), and G Marcus Foster (7.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg). The Musketeers failed to make the NCAA Tournament last season and were eliminated in the First Round of the 2024 NIT by Georgia (78-76). With rats and Conference Tournaments, almost all teams in College Basketball lose their last game of the previous season. 

Xavier Betting Trends

• Xavier is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games overall
• Musketeers last 3 losses came to Power 4 Conference sides (MICH, GA, UCONN) 
• Xavier has played 4 straight Unders
• The Musketeers first Road game comes December 5 at TCU 
• The Under is 9-1 in Xavier’s last 10 games dating back to last season

South Carolina State vs Xavier Prediction

This hoops handicap will look at the Totals market and try to feast on Xavier’s propensity to play Unders. The Under is a profitable 9-1-0 in the last 10 Musketeers games with their last game falling below the 154 Total by 23 points (MICH 78 XAV 53). The last Over for Xavier came on November 8 against IUPUI in a 94-80 win, going Over the closing Total of 157.5 by 16.5 points at the Cintas Center as the Musketeers shot 55.9% from the Field. So this South Carolina State vs Xavier NCAAB free pick will be to take the Under and hope the hosts hold Jones and the Bulldogs in check. SC State shot just 32.8% from the Field in its last game vs Marshall and was a paltry 18.8% from behind the arc (3 for 16).

Kevin’s Pick: South Carolina State-Xavier Under 133.5