Xavier vs Seton Hall Picks and Predictions: Pirates Shine Light on Xavier Struggles

Tonight's Big East action is highlighted by Xavier and Seton Hall, who are going head-to-head at Prudential Center.

The Musketeers (16-6, 6-5) have lost three of five and are slowly falling out of the AP Top 25. Meanwhile, the Pirates (14-7, 5-6) had lost four of five before bouncing back with wins over Georgetown and Creighton.

Will Xavier get back on track or can Seton Hall secure a big win at home? Read our college basketball picks and predictions for Xavier vs. Seton Hall to find out.

Xavier vs Seton Hall odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

Seton Hall opened as 3-point home favorites against the visiting Xavier Musketeers with the line moving up slightly to -3.5.

The total hit the board at 141, went up to 142.5, but has come back down to 141.5 in most places as of lunchtime on Wednesday. With that said, some books have the number as low as 139.5 so be sure to shop around before placing your bets.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until tip-off and be sure to check out the full college basketball odds before placing your bets.

Xavier vs Seton Hall predictions

• Prediction: Seton Hall -3.5 (-110)
• Prediction: Under 141.5 (-110)
• Best bet: Under 141.5 (-110)

Predictions made on 2/9/2022 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Xavier vs Seton Hall game info

• Location: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
• Date: Wednesday, February 9, 2022
• Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. ET
• TV: Fox Sports 1

Xavier at Seton Hall betting preview

Injuries

Xavier: Dieonte Miles F (Questionable).
Seton Hall: Bryce Aiken G (Questionable).

Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.

Betting trend to know

Xavier is 1-7 against the spread in its last eight games overall. Find more NCAA betting trends for Xavier vs. Seton Hall.

Xavier vs Seton Hall picks and predictions

Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.

Spread analysis

Xavier enters this game in a bit of a tricky spot. Not only have the Musketeers lost three of five, but they've allowed inferior competition to hang around and have had to fight their way back into a number of games after giving up early leads. They're a dreadful 1-7 ATS in their last eight and are in need of a bounceback after a 4-point upset home loss to DePaul on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Seton Hall has also had its share of struggles but has reeled it in with back-to-back wins and covers over Georgetown and Creighton. 

At first glance, there's not very much separating the two sides in this matchup. As expected, Xavier ranks slightly higher overall (27th to 35th) and has the edge in adjusted offensive rating (41st to 67th), with Seton Hall being the better defensive unit (27th to 43rd). 

But a deep dive into this matchup has me leaning on the home team. While Xavier is the better shooting team from almost everywhere on the floor, it could be in tough on the road tonight.

Much of the Musketeers offense runs through their big man and leading-scorer Jack Nunge (12.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg), but Seton Hall has a strong rotation of bigs up front that could make things tough on the 7-foot junior, including 7-foot-2 Ike Obiagu (3.6 blocks per game), 6-foot-8 Alexis Yetna (7.6 rpg), and 6-foot-10 Tyrese Samuel.

The Pirates are holding teams to just 44.6% (18th in the country) on shots inside the 3-point line and 40.2% overall (29th).

On offense, the Pirates may be without second-leading scorer Bryce Aiken, who's listed as questionable with a concussion. It seems unlikely he'll suit up tonight but Seton Hall can rely on leading-scorer Jared Rhoden (15.3 pgg) and will be more than comfortable giving Kadary Richmond the ball-handling reins if Aiken can't go.

In the five games Aiken's missed, Richmond has stepped up, averaging 10 points, six assists, four rebounds, and nearly three steals per game. 

The Pirates will have advantages on the glass and in the paint, and should ride their defense and electric home crowd to a huge win.

Xavier has been scraping by for the better part of a month and it will cost them against a tough team like Seton Hall on the road. Lay the small number.

Prediction: Seton Hall -3.5 (-110)

Over/Under analysis

The total in this game jumped up to as high as 142.5 but has quickly dropped back down to 141.5 or lower in some places — and it still feels at least a couple of points too high.

For starters, the Under is 6-0 in Seton Hall's last six games and 5-1 in Xavier's last six. The one Xavier game that went Over closed at a low 131.5 and finished with just 134 points. Of those 12 games, only two surpassed the 140-point mark. 

While these teams do play at a pretty quick pace, they both have strong defenses. Neither team lights it up from deep and we've already laid out the tough matchups Xavier will have up front.

Back this game to stay Under the total.

Prediction: Under 141.5 (-110)

Best bet

While I really like Seton Hall in this matchup, I'm rolling with the Under as my best bet.

These teams have played to a combined Under record of 26-15-1. Xavier allows just 64.6 points per game with Seton Hall close by at 67.1.

Backing the Under is never fun, but it's the right play tonight.

Pick: Under 141.5 (-110)

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