DePaul vs. Butler odds, prediction: Bulldogs should bounce back against overmatched Demons

Butler has just endured a usual Big East Conference gauntlet, dropping five of six games, three losses on the road and two at home — which included defending national champion UConn — by single digits.

And look what awaits the Bulldogs (11-7 SU, 8-9 ATS) on Saturday inside their cozy fieldhouse.

Not only does woebegone DePaul visit, but Butler received an extra day to repair and prepare for the Blue Demons (3-14 SU, 4-13 ATS).

To the social-media account that recently inquired about how long it’s been since DePaul has been relevant, know that the Demons last played in an NCAA Tournament in 2004 and they last danced in the Final Four in 1979.

With this season, that dearth only lengthens.

Tip-off for the Big East battle is at 4 p.m. Saturday. FS1 will carry the contest.

DePaul vs. Butler odds: Point spread, moneyline, total

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DePaul betting news: Blue Demons continue to struggle

With each game, and defeat, the discomfort only increases for third-year coach Tony Stubblefield. Wednesday night on their own court, the Demons were embarrassed, 100-62, by Providence.

Between this being posted and the Saturday tip-off, he might not even have that title anymore. Administration last pulled an in-season switch in January 2010. To say the least, life in the Big East since 2005 has been brutal for the Blue Demons.

Their cover rate is the sixth-worst among 362 Division-I programs.

Da’Sean Nelson and Chico Carter Jr. are the best aspects of DePaul.

Credit Nelson, a 6-foot-8 senior from Toledo, for sticking it out with the Blue Demons his entire career. He averages 11.9 points and a team-high 4.4 rebounds.

Carter, a 6-2 senior guard for whom DePaul is his third collegiate stop, leads the Demons in average minutes (34.8), points (12.1) and assists (3.8).

There aren’t many more positives about a squad whose effective field-goal percentage defense away from home (59.9%) is the third-worst in the country, behind only Pepperdine (61.2%) and Mississippi Valley State (60.4%).

Overall, the Demons’ 2-point defense rates among the bottom quarter of the game, while Butler’s 51.9% is in the top third; DePaul is among the 50 worst 3-point defenses in hoops, where the Bulldogs’ 34.8% is, again, in the top third.

To cap this malaise, stats guru Ken Pomery has the Demons playing 13 regular-season games, after Butler, and losing all 13.

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Butler betting news: Posh Alexander leading Bulldogs

Butler will be ahead by two dozen points and seal this cover at the line, where it’s 14th in the country at 78.1%. At home, it fares even better at the stripe with a ninth-best 82%.

The Dogs excel at taking care of the ball, and that’s thanks to 6-foot guard Posh Alexander, who played his first three seasons at St. John’s, arrived at Butler and is an ironman, sharp with the assists and steals.

If he becomes sharper and eliminates silly turnovers, Butler will be tough to tangle with come tournament time.

Guard Pierre Brooks (16.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg), forward Jahmyl Telfort (13.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and fellow guard DJ Davis (12.4 ppg) complement Alexander (11.2 ppg, 5.2 apg, 2.2 spg).

Pomeroy has Butler rated 64th on its big chart, and it says something about the quality of its recent action, and losses, by noting that it only fell from 59th to 62nd upon a loss to Providence.

Defeats came to foes ranked 55th, 38th, fourth, 53rd and 26th, respectively.

DePaul checks in at No. 268. It’s stepping up, big time, in weight and class with this game inside Hinkle against the Bulldogs.

DePaul vs. Butler prediction

The Blue Demons are horribly overmatched. Then again, they have been ever since they joined the Big East (in which they’re 66-261) 19 seasons ago.

Pick: Bulldogs