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The top of the Big East is loaded and two of the best in the league square off in a top-25 battle when the No. 19 Seton Hall Pirates host the No. 11 Xavier Musketeers. Both teams are trying to stick near the top of the standings and holding on to the hope of catching No. 1 Villanova, so this matchup takes on a little extra in that regard. Winning at home is crucial in this conference and the Pirates have yet to taste defeat on their home floor, but they will be tested against the scrappy Musketeers.
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Seton Hall has an impressive 11-0 record at home this season while going 5-6 ATS. The Pirates rebounded from their first league loss, a 20-point debacle at Marquette, to knock off an improved Georgetown squad while covering the 12.5-point line. With several patsies on the non-conference slate, The Hall faced several 20-point spreads, which affected their ATS record.
Look for Seton Hall to be laying a few points against Xavier, a team that has played just five true road games but lost its last two to Providence and Villanova while going 0-2 ATS. The Musketeers struggled offensively in those games averaging 68.5 points, nearly 16 points below their season average and they cashed the under in both.
Key Stat
Seton Hall can score the basketball with an average of 80 points per game. But they rely on their defense to create opportunities on the other end of the floor. The Pirates hold opponents to fewer than 70 points per game while allowing them to shoot just 41.9 percent from the floor. When The Hall plays defense, it wins games.
They’ve allowed more than 70 points in a game seven times this season and their three losses all came when the opponent topped the 70-point mark. Most recently the Pirates allowed 84 points to Marquette and lost by 20. In games when they allow fewer than 70 points, the Pirates are 10-0 SU and 5-5 ATS.
Player to Watch
During their two-game losing streak Trevon Bluiett couldn’t find his shooting touch. It shows just how much he means to the success of the Musketeers. Bluiett scored a total of 23 point in losses to Providence and Villanova, but he emerged from his slump in a convincing win over Creighton, surpassing his total from the previous two games by scoring 24 points on 9 of 16 shooting, including 5 of 7 from three-point range.
In Xavier’s three losses this season Bluiett has scored a total of 34 points for an average of just over 11 points per game. For the year he averages 19.2 points and is the Big East’s fifth-leading scorer while making 42.6 percent of his three-point attempts.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
Two evenly-matched teams will make for a close game, but give Seton Hall the edge with this one in their backyard. The games have typically been close with both decided by a combined nine points last season. Bluiett will be the difference-maker for Xavier and his offensive prowess as one of the Big East’s top scorers will be instrumental for the Musketeers to pull off the road victory.
Seton Hall has quality wing defenders and will make things tough for Bluiett. And watch for the balanced scoring of Desi Rodriguez, Angel Delgado and Myles Powell to provide enough for the Pirates to escape with a close home win.
College Basketball Odds: Seton Hall 74, Xavier 71
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