Butler vs Georgetown Picks & Predictions: Can the Bulldogs Upset the Hoyas?

Butler Bulldogs (9-12 SU, 10-11 ATS) vs. Georgetown Hoyas (13-8 SU, 11-10 ATS)

When: Friday, January 31st, 6:30 PM (ET)

Where: Capital One Arena, DC, Washington

TV: FS1

Point Spread: BUTL +3.5/GEORGE -3.5

Total: 138.5

Money Line: Butler Bulldogs +135/-165

Notable Injuries

Bulldogs

• Jamie Kaiser Jr. (Out) Redshirt
• Augusto Cassia (Out) Knee

Hoyas

• Julius Halaifonua (Out) Ankle

Recent Form

Butler Bulldogs Recent Game/Games

Butler fell to 9-12 on the season after a 78-69 loss to Marquette on Tuesday. Despite being +8.5 point underdogs, the Bulldogs couldn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 147 narrowly missed the O/U line of 147.5.

Butler led 42-35 at halftime but struggled in the 2nd half, scoring just 27 points while allowing 43.

Georgetown Hoyas Recent Game/Games

Georgetown fell to 13-8 after a 66-41 home loss to St. John’s on Tuesday. The Hoyas entered the game as +5 underdogs but failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 107 fell well short of the 140.5 O/U line.

After trailing 47-21 at halftime, Georgetown’s defense held St. John’s to 19 points in the 2nd half, but the Hoyas only managed to score 20 points themselves, unable to mount a comeback.

Analysis

Butler’s offense put up 69 points in their last game, shooting 40.7% from the field and 27.3% from beyond the arc, with an effective field goal percentage of 45.8%. They connected on 15 of 18 free throws, hitting 83.3% from the line, and grabbed 12 offensive rebounds, dishing out 16 assists as a team.

Jahmyl Telfort led the Bulldogs with 24 points and five assists, while Stevie Mitchell added 22 points, shooting 64.3% overall and 66.7% from three. Kam Jones contributed 17 points, hitting 53.8% of his shots, and David Joplin chipped in 14 points, knocking down 54.5% from the field.

Butler’s defense gave up 78 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 40% from the field on 24 of 59 attempts. Inside the arc, they allowed 48% shooting, as the other team hit 18 of 37 two-point shots.

From three-point range, Butler held their opponent to 27% shooting, with just 6 made threes on 22 attempts. However, they sent the other team to the free-throw line 18 times, where they converted 15 for 83%. Butler also gave up 12 offensive rebounds.

Georgetown’s offense struggled mightily in their last game, scoring just 41 points on 24.6% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 29.8%, with two-point shooting at 25.8% and three-point shooting at 23.1%. The Hoyas also had a tough time at the free-throw line, hitting only 43.8% of their attempts.

Malik Mack, Zuby Ejiofor, and Kadary Richmond each contributed 13 points, with Richmond shooting 85.7% from the field and Ejiofor hitting 83.3% of his shots. Mack connected on 60% of his three-point attempts, going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.

Georgetown put on a defensive clinic, holding their opponent to just 66 points on 24% shooting from the field. The Hoyas were particularly effective inside, limiting two-point attempts to 8/31, a 25% success rate.

From beyond the arc, Georgetown’s defense held strong, with their opponent hitting only 6 of 26 threes or 23%. The Hoyas also sent them to the line 16 times, where they converted just seven free throws, shooting 43%.

Betting Trends

• When looking at their past five road matchups, Butler has an ATS record of 3-2 while averaging 65 per game. The team went 0-5 overall in these games.
• Across their last five home contests, Georgetown has a 3-2 record vs the spread. Their overall mark in these games was 2-3 while averaging 63 points per game.
• As the betting underdog, the Bulldogs have an ATS mark of just 1-2 in their last three games. Butler posted a straight-up mark of 0-3 in these matchups.
• Spanning across their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Hoyas have gone 7-3 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 9-1.

Joe’s Pick To Cover The Spread

Butler came out and played Marquette tough in the first half on Tuesday but fell apart in the 2nd half and couldn’t pull off the upset. As for Georgetown, they struggled against a St. John’s team that has been red hot. I think Georgetown gets back on track tonight, as Butler is going to struggle on the road. I’m taking the Hoyas to cover.