Xavier versus Minnesota Betting
The breakdown: A consistent big fish in a small pond, Xavier could easily succeed in a big conference. Minnesota finished the year strong to make it into the tournament field, and is surprisingly a 1.5 point favorite over the Musketeers.
Why Xavier will win: Xavier is fundamentally sound across the board, and does not have one glaring weakness. It will make things difficult for Minnesota to exploit any big problem areas, as Xavier doesn’t really have one. The Musketeers are consistent and persistent.
Why Minnesota will win: Minnesota has played in a ton of games against ranked opponents this year, and due to playing all year in the Big Ten, has had a chance to play against better competition. The Golden Gophers and center Ralph Sampson III will be ready for this game.
Pick: Minnesota by two.
