The 2021-22 CBB season continues Thursday, January 22, with the Big East Conference battle at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, so we bring you the best UConn vs. Butler betting pick along with the latest odds update on MyBookie Sportsbook.

The Huskies and Bulldogs lock horns for the second time in just three days. Last Tuesday, UConn trounced Butler 76-59 as a 14-point home favorite with a total of 125.5 points. The Huskies are 8-point road favorites for this one, while the totals sit at 129.5 points.

UConn shoots for its third straight W   

The UConn Huskies (12-4; 8-8 ATS) made it a winning streak with that comfortable victory over Butler. Last week, the Huskies outlasted the St. John’s Red Storm 86-78 in overtime to bounce back from a 90-87 overtime defeat at Seton Hall.

UConn dominated the Bulldogs game from start to finish, leading by as many as 21 points. Senior PG R.J. Cole accounted for 17 points and six rebounds; sophomore forward Adama Sanogo posted 13 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks, while freshman G Jordan Hawkins added 14 points off the bench.

Cole and Sanogo have led the way for UConn so far this season. While R.J. has averaged 16.4 points, 3.7 boards, and 4.8 assists per game, Sanogo has recorded 15.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks a night. The Huskies are No. 16 in the latest NCAA NET Rankings and No. 20 in the KenPom rankings. They score 112.9 points per 100 possessions (26th in the nation) and allow 93.7 in a return (28th).

Butler lost four of its last five games 

The Butler Bulldogs (9-8; 5-11 ATS) are in crisis, going 1-4 straight up and ATS in their last five contests. Before that 17-point loss at UConn, the Bulldogs suffered humiliation at Villanova, losing 82-42 as 15.5-point road dogs.

Butler shot only 30.5% from the field and 31.3% from beyond the 3-point line against the Huskies. They struggled mightily against UConn’s D, handing out a paltry five assists. Freshman guard Jayden Taylor led the way for the Bulldogs with 19 points and a couple of rebounds, while another freshman G Simas Lukosius added 17 points off the bench.

Taylor is Butler’s best player in 2021-22. He’s posting 10.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. The Bulldogs are No. 142 in the NCAA NET Rankings and No. 130 in the KenPom rankings. They tally 101.7 points per 100 possessions (199th in the nation) and allow 98.3 in a return (85th).

Trends:

UConn:

  • 4-1 ATS in the last five games on the road
  • 8-2 ATS in the last ten games played in January 

Butler:

  • 2-6 ATS in the last eight games overall
  • 1-4 ATS in the last five games against the Big East

UConn vs. Butler Pick

Just three days ago, the Huskies easily outlasted the Bulldogs. UConn will have a slightly taller task in this road matchup, but after what I saw last Tuesday, backing the Huskies to win and cover is the only way to go about the side bet.

Butler has struggled offensively all season long. The Bulldogs will have a mountain to climb against UConn’s stout defense that ranks 19th in the country in the opponent field goal percentage (38.6%) and second in blocks per game (7.3).

Pick: Take UConn -8.0 at -110                   

The Total:

I’ve mentioned how good UConn’s defense has been thus far. Adama Sanogo will continue to control the paint, and the Bulldogs lack height and strength to compete with the Huskies’ sophomore forward.

Butler is not a bad defensive team and should do a decent job in this matchup. The Bulldogs average only 63.5 possessions per 40 minutes (344th in the country), and the total has gone under in seven of their last eight outings at home. On the other side, the over is 5-1 in UConn’s previous six showings, but the Huskies register just 67.6 possessions per 40 minutes (220th). Give me the under on the totals.

Pick: Go under 129.5 points at -110