Texas Meets Xavier in 2023 Sweet 16 Betting, March Madness Odds and Best Bets

Indeed, the March Madness betting case for Texas interim head coach Rodney Terry is building.  Following a championship at the Big 12 Tournament, the Longhorns rolled to two wins in the NCAA Tournament.  As a result, Texas is in the Sweet 16 to face the Xavier Musketeers.  Consider that Terry has led the Longhorns to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2008.  Terry continues to make the best possible case to have the interim tag removed.  His players love playing for him.  And it shows.  Hence, Terry’s job status remains a motivating factor for his players.

Xavier vs. Texas CashBet Wagering Analysis

Naturally, Texas is the much bigger online sportsbook brand in this matchup.  Thus, the casual sector will flock to the Longhorns.  On the other hand, Xavier is operating under the radar.  And that is just how the Wise Guys like it.  Oddsmakers know that Texas will get a flood of public support.  Thus, the guys making the line will throw some extra sugar to the Musketeers.

Xavier Returns to Power

Last weekend, Xavier scored 2023 March Madness betting wins over Kennesaw State and Pitt.  The Musketeers have covered two of their previous six games.  Xavier went under the total in three of its last four games.  Souley Boum leads Xavier with 16.5 points per game.  And Zach Freemantle adds 8.1 rebounds per contest.

Overall, the Xavier Musketeers are 23-8 straight up, 17-13-1 against the spread, and 20-10 over/under the total.  Xavier has national rankings of 12^th for scoring offense, 3^rd for field goal percentage, 5^th for 3-point field goal percentage, 180^th for free throw percentage, and 35^th for offensive rebounding.

While defensively, Xavier has national rankings of 305^th for scoring defense, 217^th for field goal percentage permitted, 314^th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 65^th for defensive rebounding.

Terry Keeps Delivering the Beef

Late on, Texas covered six of its previous eight games.  The Longhorns went under the bet on NCAA basketball total in seven of their last eight games.  Marcus Carr leads Texas with 15.8 points per game.  

In sum, the Texas Longhorns are 23-8 straight up, 14-17 against the spread, and 16-13 over/under the total.  Texas has national rankings of 30^th for scoring offense, 43^rd for field goal percentage, 168^th for 3-point field goal percentage, 56^th for free throw percentage, and 197^th for offensive rebounding.

In turn, defensively, Texas has national rankings of 138^th for scoring defense, 114^th for field goal percentage permitted, 146^th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 173^rd for defensive rebounding.

Namely, Dylan Disu had a season-high 28 points on 14-for-20 shooting.  And that steadied Texas down the stretch after a late Penn State surge.  The performance led the Longhorns to their first Sweet 16 in 15 years with a 71-66 victory.

The No. 2 seed Longhorns were just 1 for 13 from 3-point land.  So Disu turned this into a mid-range game.  He went 5-5 over the last 4 1/2 minutes.  And then he grabbed ten rebounds for good measure.  Sir’Jabari Rice scored 13 points for Texas.  At the same time, Camren Wynter had 16 points for the No. 10 seed Nittany Lions.  Penn State was coming off its first NCAA Tournament victory in 20 years.

Second team All-American Jalen Pickett had 11 points and ten rebounds with seven turnovers for Penn State.  Andrew Funk (12 points) and Lundy (11 points) rallied after a scoreless first half for each.  However, this season, their top two 3-point shooters in the Big Ten went a combined 4 for 16.  Penn State was 8 for 28 from deep, despite a steady stream of clean looks in the second half.

Xavier vs. Texas CashBet Free Pick  

As was previously noted, Xavier will get the better 2023 March Madness Betting price against the masses.

Xavier vs. Texas CashBet Best Bet

Xavier Musketeers