No. 1 Xavier vs No. 16 Texas Southern Preview: Odds, Predictions, TV, Starting Lineups 3/16/18

Xavier (28-5) is scheduled to matchup against Texas Southern (16-19) this Friday, March 16th. Tip-off is at 7:20pm ET and the game will be playing live on TBS, streaming available on FuboTV (Free Trial). Xavier is the favorite at -19.5, 64% have picked Texas Southern to cover the spread. The total number of points scored for the over/under is listed at 160, 88.9% have picked the under.

[divider]

MORE MARCH MADNESS
SALLAS: 10 Crazy Facts That Will Predict the Tournament Champion
DOUGHTY: Why 10-Seeds Are Smart Upset Picks in 2nd Round
SALLAS: 5 Ways To Improve the NCAA Tournament
COFFARO: 42 Teams That Have Never Made the NCAA Tournament
SALLAS: Cinderella Heads to Tinder For A Dance Partner

[divider]

Last Game's Starting Lineups

These were the starting lineups from each team's last game.

Xavier	Texas Southern
Trevon Bluiett (G)	Derrick Bruce (G)
Quentin Goodin (G)	Donte Clark (G)
J.P. Macura (G)	Demontrae Jefferson (G)
Kerem Kanter (F)	Cainan McClelland (G)
Naji Marshall (F)	Marquis Salmon (F)

Xavier Game Summary

Xavier lost their last game against Providence on Friday, March 9th, 75-72. Alpha Diallo (Providence) scored a team-high 17 points for the winning team, making 5 of 9 attempts from the field for a 55.6% field goal percentage. In 42 minutes, he collected 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block with 1 turnover. Kerem Kanter led Xavier's team in scoring with 18 points, while shooting 7 of 9 (77.8%) from the field. In 23 minutes, Kanter added to his stat line, 18 points, 1 assist and 1 three with 1 turnover.

Texas Southern Game Summary

Texas Southern won their last game against North Carolina Central, 64-46 on Wednesday, March 14th. Demontrae Jefferson (Texas Southern) scored a team-high 25 points for the winning team, making 8 of 18 attempts from the field for a 44.4% field goal percentage. In 39 minutes, he collected 25 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 3 threes with 2 turnovers. Raasean Davis led North Carolina Central's team in scoring with 19 points, while shooting 9 of 11 (81.8%) from the field. In 35 minutes, Davis added to his stat line, 19 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks with 3 turnovers.

Prediction

Xavier is a 'weak' 1-seed according to BennettRank, but don't expect them to drop this one to a 16-seed. BennettRank thinks Xavier will make an early-ish exit in the tourney, just not this early. Trevon Bluiett and company should roll.

Xavier: 82
Texas Southern: 60

[divider]

View full team comparisons