The Seton Hall Pirates (10-1, 0-0 Big East) visit the Providence Friars (7-5, 0-1) in Friday Big East action at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island. The Pirates and Friars will tip things off at 6:30 p.m. ET (FS1). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA basketball odds around the Seton Hall vs. Providence odds and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions for the best bets.
Seton Hall is off to its best start to a season since 2011-12. The Pirates, who were swept in 2 games by the Friars last season and have lost 3 straight to Providence overall, lost 83-81 to USC Nov. 25, and that represents their lone setback of the season. They have won 4 in a row since, and that includes an 81-59 (Over 136.5) triumph over +12.5 Rutgers in their last game (Saturday).
Providence had ben 3-0 this month before falling in its last game, also Saturday. The +4 Friars lost 113-110 (Over 164.5) at Butler. That game went into overtime, and the result marked the squad’s second OT loss this season when scoring over 100 points.
The last 10 series meetings have netted a 5-5 split against the number.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
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Seton Hall at Providence odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:43 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Seton Hall +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Providence -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Seton Hall +1.5 (-105) | Providence -1.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 153.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Seton Hall at Providence picks and predictions
Prediction
Providence 78, Seton Hall 74
No interest; PASS.
Providence is 4-1 ATS since Nov. 28. The Friars are 14-6 ATS across their last 20 December games.
Providence has played the superior schedule so far. Per KenPom, SHU’s slate ranks outside the top 300. So, peg the Pirates’ Big East-best 61.6 defensive-scoring mark to be highly suspect.
The Friars like to get the ball inside, and they have a big size advantage in the frontcourt. Expect the Friars to get the easier looks in this matchup. And Providence typically takes good care of the basketball; that works against what a ballhawking Seton Hall defense likes to do.
The pace matchup provides a big contrast, with Providence going fast and SHU going slow. The Friars have fared well in such matchups.
BACK THE FRIARS -1.5 (-115).
Overall, the Providence season numbers say top-30 tempo. But the Friars, who played at a slower-than-average pace last winter, have dialed things back in recent games. And we should likely expect a peel-back in their numbers the further they get into Big East play.
Don’t expect any kind of overabundance of transition buckets, put-backs, free throws or 3-pointers. Those are the factors that spiral game totals. The UNDER 153.5 (-110) has some slight value.
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