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Marquette Golden Eagles vs Xavier Musketeers Picks and Predictions – January 7th 2026
A high-stakes Big East clash hits Cincinnati Tuesday night as the Marquette Golden Eagles head to the Cintas Center to take on the Xavier Musketeers. Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM ET on January 7, 2026, with both teams in the thick of the conference race. Marquette enters 13–2 overall and ranked inside the top 10 nationally, riding elite guard play and aggressive defense. Xavier is 10–5 but tough at home and still dangerous when the threes are falling.
This game is likely to come down to tempo control, turnovers, and late-game execution — three areas where Marquette has held the edge all season, but Xavier’s home court can’t be overlooked.
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Marquette Golden Eagles vs Xavier Musketeers Odds
These are the current betting lines for this Big East matchup. Stay updated with the latest college basketball odds heading into tipoff.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette Golden Eagles | -170 | -3.5 (-110) | O 144.5 (-110) |
| Xavier Musketeers | +145 | +3.5 (-110) | U 144.5 (-110) |
Marquette Golden Eagles Betting Form
Marquette continues to show why it’s one of the best backcourts in the country. Tyler Kolek has been the engine, averaging over 7 assists per game while keeping turnovers low. Offensively, Marquette spaces the floor, moves without the ball, and ranks top-20 in adjusted efficiency. Defensively, they force turnovers at a high rate and defend without fouling — a huge factor on the road.
The Golden Eagles push tempo, but not recklessly. They pick their spots in transition and are deadly when they force live-ball turnovers. Their shooting has been slightly streaky on the road, but the defense usually travels — and that’s the edge they’ll need here.
View the Marquette stats and results and monitor any late news on the Marquette injury report.
Xavier Musketeers Betting Form
Xavier has been hit or miss this season, but they’ve been strong at home — covering in six of their last eight at the Cintas Center. The Musketeers are built around spacing, shooting, and ball movement, but their efficiency drops when they get bullied defensively. Against teams like Marquette that pressure the ball, they can struggle to run clean offense.
Their frontcourt is skilled, but not particularly physical. That puts pressure on the guards to create offense and control tempo. If Quincy Olivari and Desmond Claude can get going early, Xavier has a shot to keep this close throughout.
Check the Xavier schedule and stats, and stay updated via the Xavier injury report before placing bets.
Marquette Golden Eagles vs Xavier Musketeers Matchup Breakdown
This is all about execution in the halfcourt. Marquette excels at making teams uncomfortable — especially guards. Xavier has shown signs of offensive stagnation when they’re unable to initiate early action. Marquette’s perimeter defense and switch-heavy scheme will challenge that from the jump.
Key matchup angles:
- Turnovers: Marquette forces 16+ turnovers per game. Xavier needs to be clean to compete.
- Tempo control: Both teams can run, but Marquette is better at dictating flow.
- Three-point shooting: Xavier relies more on the deep ball — volatile but necessary here.
- Bench depth: Marquette’s rotation goes deeper and more versatile.
If Xavier gets hot from three and limits live-ball giveaways, they can cover. But if Marquette gets into passing lanes and turns defense into offense, it’s their game to lose.
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Marquette Golden Eagles vs Xavier Musketeers Predictions and Best Bets
Marquette is the better team, and their defensive pressure and guard play should travel well. The spread at -3.5 is light considering their overall edge in tempo, turnover margin, and execution. This sets up as a game where they pull away late — especially if they win the battle on the glass.
The total at 144.5 is about right. If Xavier keeps pace, this goes Over. But if Marquette controls the game and slows Xavier’s pace through pressure, the Under could cash.
Still, the sharper edge is with the road favorite.
Best Bet: Marquette -3.5 (-110).
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