Seton Hall vs Xavier Prediction, Preview, Odds and Picks, Dec, 20
Big East conference play is in full swing. On Tuesday night, the Seton Hall Pirates (7-5, 0-1) will visit the Xavier Musketeers (9-3, 1-0). Seton Hall is a defensive-minded team and Xavier has one of college basketball’s best offenses.
Over the last three games, the Pirates are 2-1 against the spread (ATS), while the Musketeers are 1-2. Which elite unit will rule the day? Seton Hall’s defense or Xavier’s offense?
Let’s check the latest college basketball odds, stats, injury reports, and college basketball lines for Seton Hall vs Xavier. We’ve plenty of NCAA basketball odds for you to consider.
Pirates Getting Healthy
During non-conference play, Seton Hall struggled and had a three-game losing streak from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1. The Pirates were favored in two of the losses, including a 60-55 loss to Siena as 14.5-point favorites. Seton Hall has turned it around over the last two weeks. It has won three of the last four games while going 2-1 ATS, but the Pirates’ three-game winning streak was snapped in the 71-67 loss to Providence on Saturday.
Injuries have been a problem over the last week. However, Seton Hall could be the healthiest it’s been in weeks. The Pirates had most of their rotation healthy against Providence, and starting guard Femi Odukale (ankle) could return against Xavier.
As mentioned, Seton Hall relies on defense. The unit ranks in the 91st percentile of allowed points per game and the 93rd percentile of allowed shooting percentage. Coach Shaheen Holloway has established another scrappy defense after leading Saint Peter’s to 25th in defensive efficiency last season.
Scoring has been an issue, as Seton Hall averages under 70 points. However, guard Kadary Richmond is emerging and is coming off a 28-point outing.
Miller’s Instant Impact at Xavier
Travis Steele, Sean Miller took over for his second stint with Xavier. So far, it looks like Miller could reestablish the Musketeers as a power in the Big East. In Miller’s first stint from 2004-09, Xavier won the conference in three consecutive seasons and had four NCAA Tournament appearances.
Through 12 games, the Musketeers rank sixth with 84.8 points per game and are ninth in Kenpom’s offensive efficiency. Plus, Xavier is the top passing team with 21.1 assists per game. Every player in the starting lineup is a double-digit scorer, and guard Souley Boum (17.9 points) has scored at least 20 points in three of the last four games. The Musketeers are also coming off their highest point total of the season, with a 102-89 win over Georgetown on Friday.
Xavier is on a five-game winning streak and is 4-2 ATS over the last six games. The Musketeers have become a dark horse candidate to win the Big East and are on track to make their first NCAA Tournament since 2018.
Seton Hall vs Xavier Game Injuries
Since 2019, Seton Hall has been 5-2 against Xavier and is on a three-game winning streak. The Pirates are 4-3 ATS during the seven-game stretch. Both programs have a new head coach at the helm this season.
Seton Hall vs Xavier Game Information
- Game: Seton Hall (7-5) vs Xavier (9-3)
- Location: Cintas Center, Cincinnati, OH
- Day/Time: Tuesday, Dec. 20, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Seton Hall vs Xavier Live Stream: TBS.com
Seton Hall vs Xavier Betting Lines
Seton Hall vs Xavier Picks & Prediction
Seton Hall has been up and down, while Xavier is on the verge of cracking the AP Poll’s Top 25. The last time the Pirates faced a top-15 offense, No. 4 Kansas won 91-65 while shooting over 50% from the field. The Musketeers’ defense is far worse than Kansas, but their offense is on the same level.
Xavier presents the same problems, like being an elite passing team and a dangerous 3-point shooting team. In fact, the Musketeers rank second at 42.3% from deep and lead the country in assists per game. Xavier’s offense will be too much for Seton Hall.
Xavier Musketeers is listed at -400 in our Vegas college basketball lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Musketeers, you have a chance to win $25. Seton Hall Pirates is +320, offering a chance to win $320 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Xavier an 80.00% chance to win, with the Pirates at 23.81%.
