Butler for a while looked like the class of the Big East and a legitimate Final Four threat, but the No. 13 Bulldogs enter Friday’s conference game against Marquette on a three-game skid. Still, Butler is favored on the NCAAB odds.
How to Bet Marquette vs Butler College Basketball Odds & Game Info
- When: Friday, 9 PM ET
- Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
- TV: Fox Sports 1
- Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
- Radio: SiriusXM
- College Basketball Odds: Butler -6.5 (Total 136)
Marquette vs Butler Last Meeting
First game between the teams this year. Marquette won both a season ago, including 76-58 in Indianapolis. It was the Golden Eagles’ first win at Hinkle Fieldhouse since the 1989-90 season. Marquette star Markus Howard had 32 points, including 15 in a five-minute span to head his team. Howard 9 of 17 in the first half, matching Butler’s team field goal total, and wound up 14 of 23.Teammate Sam Hauser finished with 19 points and five rebounds. Kamar Baldwin led the Bulldogs with 16 points while Paul Jorgensen and Sean McDermott each scored 10. The Golden Eagles were 8 of 16 on 3-pointers while limiting Butler to 6 of 26 beyond the arc.
The all-time series dates back to the 1922-23 campaign and is led by Butler, 22-19.
Why Bet on Marquette?
Marquette won a third in a row Tuesday, 82-68 at home over St. John’s to improve to 14-5 overall and 4-3 in the Big East. Marquette led 37-31 at halftime, and 18 seconds into the second half, Markus Howard sank five straight free throws following a foul call on Nick Rutherford. He then tacked on more foul shots after Rutherford was whistled for a technical foul. The Red Storm reduced their deficit to 42-38 after Rasheem Dunn’s layup with 18:12 left. But Marquette went on a 17-7 run in the next 51/2 minutes for a 14-point lead.Sacar Anim tied his season-high with 21 points to lead Marquette, while senior All-American had 32 points, six rebounds and four assists. Howard, who made 12 of 13 from the foul line, moved into sixth place on the Big East’s all-time scoring list with 1,292 points. He surpassed Chris Mullin (1,290, St. John’s) and Kerry Kittles (1,288, Villanova). It was the 60th time in his career that Howard reached 20 points (12th time this season). Howard hit four 3-pointers to give him 200 in his career in Big East play. He’s one behind league record-holder Jeremy Hazell (Seton Hall, 2007-11) who had 201 in 68 games.
All About Howard
Howard is also now in possession of 2,466 points and will soon join the exclusive 2,500-point club. In NCAA history, only 71 players have reached that mark, including Howard’s older brother, Jordan, who netted 2,524 points at Central Arkansas (2015-18).MU limited its opposition to just 36.6 percent (26/71) shooting from the field, marking the tenth time this season they’ve held their opponent to under 40 percent from the field (10-0 record in those games).
Marquette hit 12 3-pointers, marking the ninth time in its past 11 games it has hit 10-or-more shots from beyond the arc. MU is currently first in the Big East and 10th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (.396) and each of the team’s seven active perimeter scholarship players have contributed at least one made triple and six different players are in double figures in makes on the year.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 77.79
- Field Goal Percentage: 43.17
- Three-Point Percentage: 39.58
- Free Throw Percentage: 73.05
- Total Rebounds: 40.37
Defense
- Total Score: 68.58
- Field Goal Percentage: 39.37
- Three-Point Percentage: 30.36
- Free Throw Percentage: 63.87
- Total Rebounds: 35.74
Why Bet on Butler?
Butler lost its third in a row Tuesday, 76-61 at No. 9 Villanova. The Wildcats pulled away in the second half in a game in which neither team shot particularly well. Villanova led by 11 late in the game despite a 1-for-7 shooting slump; still enough to protect the lead with the Bulldogs on a 1 of 10 slump. The Wildcats put five players in double figures as they hit 21 of 23 from the free throw line. Butler attempted only eight free throws on the night.The Bulldogs also lost forward Christian David to a knee injury in the first half. David went down hard under the net and needed assistance off the court. Kamar Baldwin led Butler with 21 points. Bryce Nze and Bryce Golden each scored 11 points, with Nze adding 12 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.
Butler junior guard Aaron Thompson has been named to the 2020 Midseason Team for Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year. Thompson is one of only 15 players to be recognized. Butler’s defense is surrendering only 58.1 points per game this season, which is fifth nationally. Thompson is second on the Bulldogs in both steals and blocks this season. On the offensive end, Thompson ranks second in the Big East in assist/turnover ratio and third in assists.
Butler had not allowed an opponent 70 points in its first 16 games of the season before surrendering 78, 79 and 76 points, respectively, in its last three games. Butler’s field goal percentage defense (.377; 15th) and three-point percentage defense (.279; 12th) are both among the national leaders. Butler leads the Big East in rebounding margin in all games (+6.6) and in conference games (+11.7).
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 68.32
- Field Goal Percentage: 46.70
- Three-Point Percentage: 35.03
- Free Throw Percentage: 71.10
- Total Rebounds: 35.37
Defense
- Total Score: 58.05
- Field Goal Percentage: 37.67
- Three-Point Percentage: 28.40
- Free Throw Percentage: 69.87
- Total Rebounds: 29.42
Marquette vs Butler 2020 College Basketball Betting Trends
- Golden Eagles are 12-3 SU in their last 15 games played in January
- Golden Eagles are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games against an opponent in the Big East conference
- The total has gone OVER in 8 of Marquette’s last 10 games this season
- Bulldogs are 10-1 SU in their last 11 games at home
- Bulldogs are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games played in January
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Butler’s last 6 games this season
