NFL Tickets
TV Schedule: Tuesday, Dec. 22, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN3
Arena: Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Winston-Salem, NC
Line: Xavier (-7)
The undefeated Xavier Musketeers and Trevon Bluiett head into Christmas week ranked No. 6 in the country, but face a tough task, as they travel to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to face off with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and Devin Thomas.
Wake Forest have won five straight games since losing to the Vanderbilt Commodores, including a win over the UCLA Bruins. Although they will be completely focused on the game Tuesday night, there is no doubt that these players know that a win against the undefeated Musketeers could be what catapults this team into the 2016 NCAA tournament at the end of the season. The ACC is arguably the most difficult conference in college basketball, so this is about as close as the Demon Deacons can get to a must-win game, assuming they finish in the middle of conference play.
That being said, Xavier has been spectacular this season and has proven that they are a legitimate top 10 team with big wins over teams like the Michigan Wolverines, Dayton Flyers, USC Trojans and, most impressively, Cincinnati Bearcats. Although the Musketeers should not take the Demon Deacons lightly, in no way should they be too worried about being upset – even on the road.
Wake Forest looks like a potential NCAA tournament bubble team, but their upsets are going to come in conference play and not against the Musketeers. If anyone is stopping this Xavier team, it will be a Big East team familiar with head coach Chris Mack’s style. With the Musketeers facing the Villanova Wildcats and Butler Bulldogs to open conference play, the Big East instantly becomes the conference to watch moving forward.
Prediction: Xavier 72, Wake Forest 62
Taylor Sturm is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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