Missouri at Xavier

Missouri and Xavier will open the Puerto Rico Tip-off in San Juan. The Tigers seem primed to contend in the competitive Big-12. They have a trio of scorers in Carroll, Lyons, and Lawrence that are playing unselfish basketball accumulating 24 assists in their last game. More important, they took care of the basketball with just nine turnovers. Xavier has an inexperienced backcourt and it showed. They played a completely under-manned Toledo team, but committed 20 turnovers in the process which won't get it done against Missouri. The strength of the Musketeers is rebounding, but inexperience against a ball-hawking defensive team that takes care of the ball will be their demise here. I like Missouri, and like them also to get the outright win.