CBB FREE PICK: Marquette Golden Eagles at DePaul Blue Demons

#637 Marquette -4.5 (Tuesday, February 3 @ 8 pm EST)

Following two embarrassing blowout losses to Villanova and Creighton, DePaul took advantage of a ultra-thin and banged up Georgetown team that has clearly run out of a steam. It marked the Blue Demons’ second Big East win of the season. At its best, DePaul is much better than 2-14, but injuries and the disappointment of a once promising season have proven too much to overcome. After beating the Hoyas, DePaul managed to make the score respectable late but trailed by 16 with a minute to go in what eventually resulted in a 78-67 loss at Xavier. And last Saturday, they were completely outclassed in a 60-42 loss to Butler. Note in the loss to the Bulldogs, they were without the services of Paul Reed, the team’s most talented player. He’s questionable for tonight’s game.

Marquette is comfortably in the NCAA Tournament but got caught with a tricky late season scheduling swatch that featured matchups vs. the top three teams in the league (Villanova, Creighton, and Seton Hall) as well as a road tilt at red hot Providence. The only victory, like DePaul, came against beat up Georgetown. Tonight isn’t “must win” territory but close with another road game at St. John’s this weekend. Even with a little bit of a tax (Marquette closed -6.5 at home in the first meeting), there just hasn’t been much of any fight from DePaul. Bettors should leave the door open for the Blue Demons to potentially play spoiler in the Big East Tournament but until then, the fade continues.