Marquette Golden Eagles vs. Butler Bulldogs Picks and Prediction for Friday, January 23, 2026
Use Code WWWC It’s a clash on the hardwood between foes from the Big East in the Hoosier State as the Marquette Golden Eagles take on the Butler Bulldogs Friday night and we have you covered with our Marquette vs. Butler prediction. Marquette comes in off a 105-104 overtime home win over Providence Monday in their previous contest, failing to cover the line as a 2.5-point favorite. Butler downed DePaul 87-80 at home in their previous contest Tuesday, covering the line as a 6.5-point favorite. In the all-time series between the teams, the Golden Eagles owns a 16-14 advantage and have won the last three meetings, including a 78-69 win in the most recent matchup, which came on the road January 28, 2025. Read more about this Marquette vs. Butler prediction! Struggling with handicapping? Try our NCAAB Predictions!
Marquette Trying to Find A Way to Gain Momentum
Marquette had dropped three straight and nine of their previous 10 games but managed to stop the bleeding with an overtime win over Providence. The Golden Eagles ran their record to 7-13 on the season and stand 10th in the Big East with a 2-7 conference mark on the year. Against Providence, Marquette owned a 10-point edge at the half, trailed by five with 4:33 remaining in regulation and rallied to force overtime. In the extra session, neither team led by more than two, and with the game tied, Ben Gold hit one of two free throws with four seconds remaining to give the Golden Eagles the win. Marquette shot 53.4% from the field, including eight of 23 from three-point range, and lost the rebounding battle 42-30 in the game. Nigel James Jr. led the Golden Eagles with 38 points and eight assists in the win.
The Golden Eagles put up an average of 75.9 points per game on the year, putting them 207th in the nation in scoring offense, so they are above average offensively. Marquette hauls down 35.6 rebounds a night while dishing out 15.3 assists (110th) per contest. The Golden Eagles have been below average defensively on the year as they are 304th in scoring defense, allowing 78.7 points per game. Chase Ross is one of three players in double figures as he averages 15.7 points plus 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game this season. Ben Gold (8.5 points, 5.9 rebounds) and Zaide Lowery (8.1 points, 2.9 rebounds) provide solid secondary scoring options. Nigel James Jr. (15.2 points, 3.6 assists), Royce Parham (10.5 points, 4.4 rebounds), Sean Jones, Caedin Hamilton, Adrien Stevens, Damarius Owens, Tre Norman, Michael Phillips II and Joshua Clark are key contributors for coach Shaka Smart. Marquette shoots 41.8% from the field on the year as a team, which is 331st in Division I. The Golden Eagles connect on 8.1 three-pointers a game while shooting 30.8% from beyond the arc. Marquette is below average at the free throw line as they convert 67.9% of their chances at the stripe.
Key Injury Report for Marquette:
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- Guard Sean Jones (foot) is questionable.
- Guard Zaide Lowery (left the program) is out.
Bulldogs Seek to Take Care of Business at Home
Butler won their second straight after a four-game slide as they took down DePaul at home in their previous contest. The Bulldogs improved to 12-7 overall and stand just 3-5 in Big East play on the year. Against DePaul, Butler trailed 11-2 early but rallied to cut the margin to 37-33 at intermission. The Bulldogs trailed 43-37 with 18:16 to play before going on a 13-0 run to take a 50-43 advantage with 15:43 remaining. Butler led the rest of the way en route to the win. The Bulldogs shot 56.9% from the floor, including an eight of 17 showing from three-point range, and limited DePaul to 41.3% shooting. Finley Bizjack led Butler with 24 points in the win.
The Bulldogs put up an average of 83.4 points per game on the season, which puts them 64th in the nation in scoring offense. Butler pulls down 39.7 rebounds per contest (42nd) and dish out 16.3 assists (74th in the nation) per contest. The Bulldogs are below average on the defensive end of the floor, ranking 244th in scoring defense as they allow 75.9 points per game this season. Finley Bizjack leads the team and is one of two players averaging in double figures as he puts up 16.9 points and 2.1 assists per game this season. Michael Ajayi (16.3 points, 11.6 rebounds), Jamie Kaiser Jr. (9.2 points, 4.8 rebounds) and Yohan Traore are good secondary options this season. Jalen Jackson, Evan Haywood, Yame Butler, Azavier Robinson, Drayton Jones, Jack McCaffrey, Jackson Keith and Ethan McComb are looked at to contribute for coach Thad Matta. Butler shoots 46.8% from the field as a team on the season. The Bulldogs knock down an average of 7.8 triples a night while hitting 34.3% from beyond the arc, which is 167th in the country. Butler is struggling at the charity stripe as they sink 71.2% of their chances this season, which is 218th in the nation.
Key Injury Report for Butler:
- Guard Jalen Jackson (ankle) is out for the season.
Marquette vs. Butler Pick
Marquette vs. Butler Spread Pick
- Butler -6.5 (4 units)
Marquette managed to squeeze out an overtime win over Providence in their last game but this is clearly a struggling club. Shaka Smart’s squad is lacking in depth and has struggled to shoot the ball with any kind of success this season. Marquette is 0-6 on the road this year and only one of those games was decided by less than 16 points. Butler has won two straight and they have posted an 8-3 mark at home on the year. The Bulldogs are a solid offensive team and they are sound on the glass as well. Seeing how Marquette has struggled to hang in against anyone on the road, give the points and take Butler.
Marquette vs. Butler Over/Under Pick
- Over 160 (4 units)
Marquette has seen the over post an 11-9 mark on the year. The Golden Eagles are 323rd in effective field goal percentage (48.2%), 331st in field goal percentage (41.8%) and tied for 76th in offensive rebounds (12.5) this season. Marquette stands 84th in tempo according to KenPom with 69.6 possessions per game. Butler has gone over the number in 10 of their 19 games in relation to the total on the year. The Bulldogs are 58th in offensive efficiency, 133rd in effective field goal percentage (53.2%), tied for 55th in offensive rebounding percentage (12.95), 167th in three-point shooting and 17th in free throw attempts (26.3) on the year. Butler runs as they are 57th in tempo with 70.3 possessions a night. Both teams are below average defensively and that helps carry this game over the number.
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