On February 3, 2026, the Xavier Musketeers are set to face off against the No. 3 UConn Huskies in a crucial Big East matchup in Hartford, Connecticut. Scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET start, the game will be broadcast on Peacock.
Xavier enters this game with a record of 12-10 overall and 4-7 in the Big East, having recently ended a three-game losing streak with a narrow 68-66 victory over DePaul. However, they did not cover the spread as 4.5-point favorites. The Musketeers have struggled on the road, with a 0-4 record in their last four away games, and are only 3-6 in their last nine contests, including a significant 90-67 loss to UConn at the end of December.
In contrast, UConn is riding a wave of success with a record of 21-1 and a perfect 11-0 in conference play, currently on a remarkable 17-game winning streak. Their latest victory came against Creighton, where they won decisively 85-58 and exceeded the game’s total points.
BetMGM Sportsbook provides intriguing odds for this matchup, with Xavier at +1050 on the moneyline and UConn at -2500. The spread is set at UConn -17.5, reflecting the disparity in their season performances. The over/under for total points is 147.5, which indicates an expected high-scoring affair given both teams’ offensive capabilities.
Expert predictions lean heavily in favor of UConn, with a projected score of 82-63. The analysis highlights UConn’s improved perimeter shooting, with the team converting 49.1% of their 3-point attempts in recent games, while also boasting a solid defensive performance, limiting opponents to 28.8% from beyond the arc since mid-January.
While Xavier may find potential advantages in recent competitive games, UConn’s success at home and comprehensive defense is expected to put them ahead. Notably, the Huskies have covered in four of their last six meetings against the Musketeers, offering confidence to bettors favoring UConn to cover the spread.
Historically, matchups between these two have often resulted in high totals; however, analysts note that the current total is set higher than in recent encounters, making the UNDER a reasonable consideration as well.
As the game approaches, both teams will aim to leverage their unique strengths for a pivotal victory in the competitive Big East landscape.