(22) Xavier at St Joe’s – Tough Times for the Hawks

The Xavier Musketeers (22-5 SU, 13-10-2 ATS, 11-12-1 O/U) defeated George Washington 71-53 as an 18-point favorite on Sunday, making their ATS outcome a push in the BetOnline Sportsbook while the combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (135).

While senior shooting guard C.J. Anderson scored a team-high 14 points to lead five Musketeers players in double figure scoring, Xavier has gone just 2-3 SU in its last five games while recording an ugly 1-4-2 ATS record over the course of their last seven games.

The Saint Joseph’s Hawks (14-12 SU, 11-13 ATS, 10-13-1 O/U) have dropped four straight games while failing to cover the spread each time out.

The Hawks lost a nail-biter in falling to UMass 70-69 on Sunday while failing to cover the spread as 7.5-point home favorites in the BetOnline Sportsbook. Senior forward Ahmad Nivins scored a team-high 21 points in a losing effort.

Here is a look at tonight’s key betting trends, followed by my in-depth analysis and NCAAB Free Pick.

Xavier is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Xavier’s last 5 games

The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Xavier’s last 8 games when playing Saint Joseph’s

Xavier is 13-6 SU in its last 19 games on the road

Saint Joseph’s is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Xavier

The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Saint Joseph’s last 8 games when playing Xavier

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Saint Joseph’s last 6 games

Saint Joseph’s is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Xavier

NCAAB Odds

Xavier -4 -110

St. Joe’s +4 -110

Analysis: While the Xavier Musketeers are playing on the road in this contest – and going through their share of struggles – they will undoubtedly win this matchup and cover the spread with room to spare in doing so.

The Hawks have fallen on some hard times since veteran NBA guards Jameer Nelson and Delonte West made them one of the most powerful teams in the country just a few years back.

NCAAB Free Picks: Xavier -4 Points