Revenge will be a huge factor Thursday night when the No 16 Dayton Flyers travel to play the No. 23 ranked Xavier Musketeers in the only college basketball game scheduled between ranked opponents. This matchup is more than your ordinary clash between Atlantic-10 conference member schools but a war between neighborhood arch-rivals.
Oddsmakers are paying little attention to the rankings too as online sportsbook, Sportsbetting.com has installed the Musketeers as a double-digit (11-point) home favorite over the Flyers. So it’s understandable to see why early betting trends show 88% of the public taking the underdog in this game. How often do you see an opponent ranked higher than favored opponent with a double-digit line?
If the double-digit line isn’t enough to get under the Flyers skin then knowing how they were handled by Xavier in 2006 will. The Musketeers won all three games against Dayton last year, two regular season losses and as well as a season ending quarterfinal loss in the Atlantic 10 tournament.
Dayton, 14-2 overall and 2-1 in the Atlantic 10, looks to continue its early-season success on the road. Dayton has won its last four away from home with victories over Miami Ohio, Holy Cross, Louisville, and Saint Louis.
On the offensive end, Dayton is led by Brian Roberts' 20.1 points and 4.5 assists per game. Meanwhile, Marcus Johnson has reached double-figures in points in five of his last six games. However, the Flyers will be without Charles Little, last year's Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year, who was sidelined with a fracture in his right foot. Little, as well as freshman Chris Wright who is out with an injured ankle, will be out four-to-six weeks.
Xavier, the preseason pick to win the A-10, enters the contest 15-4 overall, 3-1 in conference play, and has won four straight at home. Led by Second Team All A-10 selection Drew Lavender, the Musketeers have six players who average in double figures. The Musketeers are 13-0 this season when four or more players score in double figures. Xavier is coming off a 74-66 victory over George Washington on Saturday.
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