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The University of Cincinnati Bearcats and Xavier University Musketeers headline in what otherwise appears to be a slow Wednesday night in college hoops when they meet in the annual Cross-town Shootout at Fifth Third Arena on the University of Cincinnati campus with tip-off  at 7 p.m. (EST) and can be seen on ESPNU.

The Bearcats own a 46-27 advantage in this battle for bragging rights but the Musketeers have won in seven of the last ten contests. Cincinnati enters the game with a record of 6-2 having suffered its two losses by a total of three points. The Bearcats rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat the Temple Owls 80-71, on Saturday. Xavier, No. 24 in last week’s Associated Press poll, is 7-2 following Saturday’s 72-67 upset loss at Creighton.

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Cincinnati’s Mick Cronin will be coaching in his first Cross-town Shootout which is not a good omen. The Cincinnati-Xavier game has not been kind to coaches who were in their first years at their schools. Cronin’s Bearcats are also young and inexperienced, especially with this game. This will be Xavier head coach Sean Miller’s third shootout experience.

Only four Bearcats - starting forward Cedric McGowan, backup forward Ron Allen, backup forward Connor Barwin and walk-on guard Branden Miller have been part of this game. Only McGowan has played extensively while four of Xavier's regular starters, Justin Cage, Justin Doellman, Josh Duncan and Stanley Burrell have a combined 10 games of experience playing against Cincinnati.

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Narrow margins have been the norm as the last four games between the schools has been decided by a total of 19 points.

The Musketeers have been installed a -5 point road favorite over the Bearcats with a total of 133 ½. Xavier has covered 5-of-7 contests ATS and prior to its narrow loss at Creighton had covered three straight with the OVER cashing in its last four games.

The Bearcats have not covered well ATS with only cashing in two of their five games played. The UNDER has cashed in three of those five games. Cincinnati did cover +1 ½ at Temple on Saturday.

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