The Musketeers are averaging 87.7 points over their last three games and should dominate a visiting Missouri State team that just got blown out at Tulsa, 98-74. The Bears played without senior forward Michael Osei-Bonsu, who is dealing with an undisclosed injury. His status for Friday is unclear. Either way, i'll back a surging Xavier team that's won and covered five of its last six games.

Last Friday's 79-74 win over Cincy in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout was the latest indictor that Richard Pitino has Xavier on the ascent. FAU transfer F Tre Carroll's 30 points was another reminder of the match-winners on Pitino's Musketeers, who have improved 3-point shooting to near 37% after the X was hovering around 25% earlier in the season. Well-traveled G Richie Anderson III also scored 28 in a recent cruise past St Francis-Pa. Meanwhile, not sure how much progress Cuonzo Martin is making at Mizzou State, as the Bears have taken some lumps away from Springfield, such as the 98-74 loss at Tulsa last Saturday. Cuonzo's team also isn't helping itself with subpar 29.7% shooting beyond the arc. Play Xavier.