Villanova Wildcats vs. Xavier Musketeers live stream info, start time, TV channel: How to watch NCAA Basketball on TV, stream online

Villanova is one half away from claiming victory in a match they were expected to win as they lead at halftime with a 34-29 score. However, with a second half yet to be played, it remains to be seen whether Xavier can stage a comeback and derail their winning streak. Prior to this match, Villanova had recorded three consecutive victories and could be on the verge of making it four. Given their current records, with Xavier at 7-6 and Villanova at 9-4, the game is set to be a thrilling encounter.

Historically, Xavier isn’t a strong contender against Villanova, with only 2 wins in their last 10 encounters since February 2018. After a period of inactivity, both teams will take to the court on January 3rd at Finneran Pavillion at 8:30 p.m. ET. Their previous games ended in victories, a boost of confidence for both sides.

In their last game, Xavier received a big advantage from teamwork, producing 13 more assists than their adversaries – a tactic that saw them win 74-54 against the Pirates. Their victory was helped by impressive performances from Abou Ousmane and Quincy Olivari, who scored 16 and 29 points respectively.

On the other hand, Villanova is also enjoying a successful run, advancing into this match with three straight wins after trouncing DePaul 84-48. An exceptional performance saw Hakim Hart take the spotlight with his season's best 20 points. The league standing now sits at 7-6 favoring the Musketeers, and 9-4 in favor of Villanova.

This match will likely revolve around possession dominance, with Xavier known to be strong on rebounds, averaging 40.3 rebounds per game. However, Villanova isn't an easy push-over as it has an average of 38.5 rebounds per game. In their previous meeting in February 2023, the two teams were evenly matched until Villanova clinched a 64-63 win. Will Xavier manage to turn the tables, or is a repeat loss imminent?

Latest information suggests Villanova is favored to win by 8.5 points, a figure that has increased from an opening 6.5. The game's total points forecast stands at 141. SportsLine's advanced computer model verdict points out that Villanova has had the upper hand in 8 out of their last 10 games against Xavier.