Article:Bracketbuster Game of Weekend: Bulter @ Davidson

Bracketbuster game of the weekend is still Butler @ Davidson: When the BracketBusters pairings came out on Feb. 2, Butler and Davidson were a combined 36-4 and easy choices for the top slot in the weekend's made-for-TV matchups. Since then, the two powerful mid-major programs have a combined 7-5 record, and Davidson's Player of the Year candidate Stephen Curry sprained his ankle.

Butler still expects Curry to play and be effective so to beat Davidson on the road this young team will have to play great. Even with both teams losing as of late both look like they are safely in as at large berths. Of course that is worse case scenarios if they would not win there conference tournament.

Butler graduated everyone from their NCAA Tourney team a year ago and were expected to be in the middle of the pack in the Horizon League. The Butler Bulldogs are instead a very impressive young team who has recieved immediate contributions from 2 key Freshman in Gordon Hayward, and Shelvin Mack. Matt Howard the only holdover with lengthy experieince leads the team in scoring and rebounding.

Butler has been very good against the spread this year going 14-9-1 overall. Even with a very young team they are 9-4 against the spread on the road.

Davidson has played a very good preseason schedule and when Curry is healthy they have not disappointed. They beat a very good West Virginia on a neutral floor and played Oklahoma down to the wire in Oklahoma. Without Curry this game tonight will not be close so all hopes for Davidson is that Curry can play and is effective. Fundamental for this team are very good but athletically they only have one game breaker, Curry.

Davidson is below average this year against the spread going 11-12 overall this year and only 4-6 at home against the spread.

Everybody is looking forward to this bracketbuster maybe more than any other mid major game ever. Of course that is if Curry is healthy. Oddsmakers have not set the line for this game but if Curry does play expect this line to be close with Butler being favored by -2!

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