- Top ten teams Marquette and UConn meet for the third time this season in the Big East Championship game
- UConn has won both meetings against the Golden Eagles this year
- Read below for the Marquette vs UConn odds, predictions, and player props for Saturday, March 16
The old adage is that beating a team three times is tough. On Saturday, #2 UConn will have that opportunity in the Big East Championship at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Huskies will play #10 Marquette for the third time in less than a month. UConn defeated Marquette 81-53 in their first meeting and won again a couple of weeks later 74-67. The Huskies have not only won both games, but they also covered the spread in both matchups. This is also a rematch of last year’s Big East Tournament semifinals, where Marquette beat UConn 70-68.
On their way to the Big East title game, Marquette defeated six-seed Villanova in overtime, then seven-seed Providence. UConn beat Xavier 87-60 in the Big East quarterfinals then defeated St. John’s in the semifinals 95-90.
Marquette vs UConn Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette Golden Eagles | +9 (-108) | +350 | Over 141.5 (-112) |
| UConn Huskies | -9 (-112) | -455 | Under 141.5 (-108) |
Odds as of March 16 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Check out the best DraftKings offers for Marquette vs UConn on Saturday.
The college basketball odds have UConn as 9-point favorites over Marquette in the Big East Title game. With moneyline odds of -455, UConn has an implied win probability of 81.98%.
The Huskies are looking to win their first Big East Tournament since 2011, while Marquette is the reigning Big East Tournament champion. The O/U is 141.5 in this game, and the total points have gone under that both times these teams played this season.
Even though UConn is ranked second in the country, It has the best March Madness odds at +450. Marquette is currently +3000 to win the NCAA Tournament and has the ninth-best odds.
Marquette Betting Trends
The Golden Eagles have a strong 20-12-1 record against the spread this season. They have covered the spread in 62.5% of their games and in three straight games. Marquette is also 4-1 straight up on neutral courts this season.
Without Tyler Kolek, Marquette’s offense has not looked the same. That was evident when Marquette escaped a scare against Villanova in overtime. While the offense has struggled, players have stepped up. Leading scorer Kam Jones has scored at least 18 points in his last four games. Forward Oso Ighodaro also put up 20 points last night against Providence.
Marquette is ranked twelfth in KenPom thanks to their balanced attack on offense and defense. The Golden Eagles are averaging just under 79 points per game on offense and are allowing 69.6 points per game.
UConn Betting Trends
The favorite to win it all this year, UConn has not lost a step since going on their National Championship run in 2023. Despite the Huskies winning the National Championship three times since 2011, UConn has only won the Big East Tournament once during that stretch.
The Huskies lost to Marquette in the semifinals of this tournament last season, so that might be all the motivation Danny Hurley needs to get his team ready to go.
Huge performance from these guys last night 😤 pic.twitter.com/grd3XtV3GX
— UConn Men’s Basketball (@UConnMBB) March 16, 2024
UConn went 21-12 against the spread this season. UConn covered in five straight games before failing to cover the spread against St. John’s last night. The Huskies have also covered the spread in eight of their last nine games.
The Huskies can score and score fast. They average 81.7 points per game and rank #1 in adjusted offensive efficiency. What makes UConn difficult to defend is that they can score in so many ways. They want to force turnovers and get transition points, but they also can score inside and out.
UConn is also big and physical on defense, making it difficult for teams to score, like we saw against Marquette earlier in the year when they won 81-53.
Marquette vs UConn Player Props
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three-Pointers Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Karaban (UCONN) | 13.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) | 4.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) | OFF | 2.5 (Ov +140 | Un -180) |
| Cam Spencer (UCONN) | 14.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) | 4.5 (Ov +120 | Un -150) | 3.5 (Ov -145 | Un +114) | 2.5 (Ov +105 | Un -135) |
| David Joplin (MARQ) | 10.5 (Ov -130 | Un +100) | 4.5 (Ov +100 | Un -130) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov -166 | Un +130) |
| Donovan Clingan (UCONN) | 12.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) | 7.5 (Ov -130 | Un +100) | OFF | OFF |
| Kam Jones (MARQ) | 18.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) | 3.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 3.5 (Ov +120 | Un -150) | 2.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) |
| Oso Ighodaro (MARQ) | 14.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 6.5 (Ov -145 | Un +114) | 2.5 (Ov -150 | Un +120) | OFF |
| Stephon Castle (UCONN) | 11.5 (Ov +105 | Un -135) | 4.5 (Ov +100 | Un -130) | OFF | 0.5 (Ov -130 | Un +100) |
| Stevie Mitchell (MARQ) | 9.5 (Ov -135 | Un +105) | 4.5 (Ov -135 | Un +105) | OFF | 0.5 (Ov -125 | Un -105) |
| Tristen Newton (UCONN) | 15.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 7.5 (Ov -110 | Un -120) | 5.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 2.5 (Ov +130 | Un -166) |
College basketball player props from DraftKings on March 16.
Tristen Newton is expected to have a big game against Marquette with his current props. Newton is averaging 15.2 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game, and 5.9 assists per game, and all of his props are right around those marks.
Alex Karaban is averaging 14.2 points per game which is above his prop of 13.5. He also scored 23 in his last game against Marquette.
Kam Jones has not only done a great job of scoring the basketball for Marquette, but he has also been a great distributor. He may only average 2.5 assists per game, but Jones has had at least four assists in his last three games. This offers some value to those looking at his assist prop of over 3.5 assists at +120 odds.
Marquette vs UConn Prediction
Both teams have escaped scares in the Big East Tournament over the past couple of days. UConn’s was more recent, but they still scored 95 points in regulation. UConn dominated Marquette in both games they played earlier in the season, and that was when Tyler Kolek was with them, so this one should be no different.
It is not often that you can get a revenge spot for the favorite to win the National Championship, but there are enough players on UConn to remember last year’s Big East semifinals defeat. For our Marquette vs UConn prediction, I think the Huskies will roll to their first Big East Title since 2011.
- Pick: UConn -9 (-112)
The Big East Championship is set to take place on March 16th, with Marquette facing off against UConn in what promises to be an exciting matchup. Both teams have had strong seasons so far, and fans are eager to see who will come out on top in this highly anticipated game.
As the game approaches, oddsmakers have released their predictions for the matchup. Currently, UConn is favored to win with odds of -150, while Marquette is the underdog with odds of +130. This means that a $150 bet on UConn would result in a $100 profit, while a $100 bet on Marquette would result in a $130 profit.
In terms of player props, there are several key players to keep an eye on in this game. For Marquette, guard Markus Howard has been a standout player all season, averaging 25 points per game. He will be a key player to watch as he looks to lead his team to victory in the championship game.
On the UConn side, guard Jalen Adams has been a force to be reckoned with, averaging 17 points per game. He will be a key player for UConn as they look to secure the championship title.
In terms of predictions, this game is expected to be a close one, with both teams evenly matched. However, UConn’s strong defense and ability to control the pace of the game may give them the edge over Marquette. Ultimately, it will come down to which team can execute their game plan and make key plays down the stretch.
Overall, the Big East Championship game between Marquette and UConn is shaping up to be an exciting matchup. With both teams hungry for victory, fans can expect a hard-fought battle on the court. Be sure to tune in on March 16th to see who will come out on top and take home the championship title.
