Connecticut vs Butler Prediction 12/21/2024

Connecticut vs Butler Preview

No. 11 Connecticut (9-3, 1-0 in Big East) travels to Naptown to play Butler (7-5, 0-1 in Big East) early Saturday in the second Big East Conference game for both schools. In the two-time defending national champions Huskies’ last 5 games, UConn has gone 5-0 dusting off UMES by 44 (99-45), Baylor by 4 (76-72), Texas by 11 (76-65), Gonzaga by 6 (77-71), and Xavier by 5 in OT in their last game (99-89). In the Bulldogs last 5 games, they have gone a disappointing 1-4, beating Eastern Illinois by 25 (73-58), but then losing to Houston by 28 (79-51), North Dakota State by 3 (71-68), Wisconsin by 9 (83-74), and to Marquette by 10 in their Big East opener in Milwaukee (80-70). UConn is currently priced at longshot 16/1 odds (DraftKings) to win the 2025 NCAA Basketball Tournament with Butler lined at 350/1.

Connecticut on a Roll Since Leaving Hawai’i

No. 11 Connecticut (7-5-0 ATS, 6-5-1 O/U) has been one of the best blind ATS bets in College Basketball over the last 3 seasons (almost 70% ), and after losing 3 straight in the Maui Invitational—including the 7th place game to Dayton—Head Coach Danny Hurley and the Huskies have righted the ship and won 5 straight, including victories against tough sides like Baylor, Texas, Gonzaga, and Xavier. The Huskies (-235 Moneyline) are led by talented F Alex Karaban (16.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.0 apg), F Liam McNeeley (13.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg), G Solo Ball (13.3 ppg), C Tarris Reed Jr. (11.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg), G Hasaan Diarra (8.0, 2.9 rpg, 6.0 apg), C Samson Johnson (7.4 ppg), F Jaylin Stewart (5.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg), F Jayden Ross (4.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg), and and G Aidan Mahaney (4.3 ppg), a Transfer from Saint Mary’s.

Connecticut Betting Trends

• The Over is 6-3-1 in the HuskHusky’st 10 games
• The Huskies are 62-28-1 ATS over their last 91 games (68.8%)
• UConn is 23-3 SU in its last 26 games overall (88.5%)
• The Huskies are 12-0 SU/ATS in their last 12 games in March Madness
• Connecticut has played just one true Road game this season (at TEXAS)
• The Huskies are 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall

Butler Scuffling, a Long Year May Be on Horizon 

Butler (6-6-0 ATS, 5-7-0 O/U) averages 73.0 ppg (Tied-#249) while allowing 68.7 ppg, ranks No. 208 in Assists Per Game (14.0,) and is tied for No. 210 in Rebounds Per Game (36.2), so this team has fallen much in recent years. The Bulldogs (+195 Moneyline) leading scorers are F Jahmyl Telfort (16.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.1RPGg), F Pierre Brooks II (15.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg), F PatriRPGMcCaffrey (12.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg), G Kolby RPGg (7.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg), G Finley RPGjack (6.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.6 apg), anRPG Andre Screen (6.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg). With an At Large RPG, Butler made the 2024 NIT Tournament but were then promptly bounced by wasesota in the First Round (73-72).

Butler Betting Trends

• Butler is 0-4 SU in its last 4 games overall after winning 6 in a row
• The Bulldogs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games
• The Over is 2-0-0 in Butler’s last 2 games
• Head Coach Thad Matta is 63-46 with Butler (2 separate stints)
• The Bulldogs were 14-18-0 ATS in the 2023-24 NCAAB season

Connecticut vs Butler Prediction

The Huskies have been great against Butler, going 9-0 SU and 8-1 ATS, although the Bulldogs covered the last meeting, losing by 9 (71-62) but getting 14 Points at Storrs last year in a game that went Under the closing Total of 145 by 12 points, Before that one, Connecticut won the last 9 by 7, 30, 18, 19, 17, 12, 12, and 12, covering all 4 meetings in Indianapolis. The big question here will be how high the oddsmakers make the Point Spread, with only 3 of those last 9 meetings seeing a double-digit number (all in Connecticut). Here we may just see the Huskies laying double-digits in Indiana. And with Butler losing to North Dakota State (by 3) and Marquette (by 10) at Hinkle Fieldhouse, that would be no great surprise. (The -5.5 looks great.) This Connecticut vs Butler NCAAB pick will strongly back UConn.

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Kevin’s Pick: Connecticut -5.5