Xavier Musketeers at Georgia Bulldogs
February 8, 2011 at 7:00 PM EST
Opening Line: Georgia -4.5
Current Line: Georgia -5
Opening Total: 138
Current Total: 137.5
Opening Moneyline: Ga -200 / X +170
Current Moneyline: Ga -210 / X +175
Tonight’s game brings together the 16-6 Georgia Bulldogs and the 16-6 Xavier Musketeers. Xavier is 8-1 in their conference play and rank first in the Atlantic 10. Georgia is 5-4 in SEC play and 3rd in the SEC. Last game between these two teams, Xavier won by 12, and it’s somewhat suprising that college basketball oddsmakers have set the line in the Bulldogs’ favor, given that the teams have identical records and Xavier won the last matchup by double figures.
Xavier also has a slightly better point differential than Georgia. Xavier wins by an average of 6.1 as they score 72.5 and give up 66.4. Georgia’s differential is +5.5. The Bulldogs score 71.6 and give up 66.2. Georgia is 31s in the nation in assists with 15.6 a game and they are 32nd in rebounding with 38.8 boards per contest. Xavier is not in the top 50 in any statistical categories.
Some betting trends:
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Xavier’s last 6 road games. Georgia is 2-3-1 ATS in their last 6 games and 13-4 SU in their last 17 games. The total has gone OVER in 6 of Georgia’s last 9 games, and they are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 home games. Georgia is 10-2 SU in their last 12 at home and the total has gone OVER in 4 of Georgia’s last 5 home games.
Georgia sports a balanced attack with 3 players averaging double figures in scoring, led by Trey Thompkins 16.7 points per game. Thompson also leads the team in rebounding with 7.4 a game and is first in blocks with 1.6 a game Travis Leslie’s scoring average is second with 14.4 a game. Despite standing only 6’4″, Leslie averages 7 boards a game, to go along with his 1.4 steals. He is a complete player and is efficient and effective on both ends of the court, though he does lack an outside shot. If he’s going to play at the next level he will have to work on his jumper. His backcourt mate 6’1″ Gerald Robinson is the second leading scorer for Georgia with 15.8 points per contest. Robinson is a decent three point shooter, hitting 38.1% on threes.
Xavier is led by 6’0″ junior point guard Tu Holloway. Holloway plays almost the entire game and averages 38.4 minutes per game. In those minutes he puts up averages of 20.8 points per game, 5 assists per game, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. He has scored in double figures in 21 of Xavier’s 22 games and has had 20 or more in 13 of the 22 games. He recorded a triple double (14 pts, 10 rbs, 14 asts) in a 83-75 win over Wake Forest on December 18th. Besides Holloway, there are three other Musketeers that average double figures. Mark Lyons (13.8 ppg), Kenny Frease (11.9 ppg), and Jamel McLean (11.4 ppg) form a great trio to back Holloway. Four of the Musketeers starting five players play 30 minutes or more a night and only one bench player plays more than 10 minutes a game (Jeff Robinson, 17 mpg). McLean, a 6’8″ senior forward, leads the way in rebounding with 8.8 per game. He has recorded seven double-doubles so far.
Tonight’s game should be a close one. Xavier is arguably the better team, but Georgia is at home where they have been very successful. If Holloway can get going early, Xavier could sneak away with this one.
