Seton Hall Pirates vs Villanova Wildcats NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/17/24

Planning on watching today’s Pirates and Wildcats game? Catch the action at Finneran Pavilion in Villanova, PA, as the Wildcats hosts this showdown at 7:30 ET on PEAC. The over/under for this game is set at 126 points, and Villanova is favored by -8 vs. Seton Hall in a Big East conference matchup.

SETON HALL PIRATES VS VILLANOVA WILDCATS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Seton Hall Pirates +8

This game will be played at Finneran Pavilion at 7:30 ET on Tuesday, December 17th.

WHY BET THE SETON HALL PIRATES:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-70 in favor of the Wildcats.
  • Even though we have Villanova winning straight-up, we like Seton Hall at +8.
  • The over/under is currently sitting at 126 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.

Can the Pirates Grab a Win on the Road?

Seton Hall Pirates Recent Game/Games

Seton Hall fell to 5-6 on the season after a 66-63 loss to Rutgers on Saturday. The Pirates were +10.5 point underdogs going into the game, but they managed to keep it close, covering the spread. The total points for the game were 129, which was under the O/U line of 134.5.

Seton Hall led 33-27 at halftime but allowed 39 points in the second half while scoring 30. This second-half performance was a key factor in their loss.

Seton Hall managed just 63 points in their last game, shooting 46.4% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 50%, with a strong 56.8% shooting on two-pointers, but they struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 26.3% (5/19) of their threes. Free-throw shooting was also an issue, as they connected on only 46.2% (6/13) from the line.

Dylan Harper led the way with 24 points, shooting 61.5% overall and 57.1% (4/7) from three. Ace Bailey added 21 points, hitting 60% of his shots and 66.7% (2/3) from deep, while also grabbing 7 rebounds. Isaiah Coleman contributed 15 points, despite shooting just 35.7% from the field and 25% from three.

Seton Hall’s defense couldn’t slow down their opponent in this one, allowing 66 points on 53% shooting from the field. The Pirates gave up 23 field goals on 43 attempts, with their opponent hitting 16 of 30 from two-point range.

From beyond the arc, Seton Hall’s defense allowed 7 threes on 13 attempts, also at a 53% clip. Their opponent struggled at the free-throw line, though, making just 13 of 28 for 46%. Seton Hall limited second-chance opportunities, giving up only 5 offensive rebounds.

Will Villanova Win at Home?

Villanova improved to 7-4 on the season with an 86-72 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday. Despite being heavy favorites at -28.5, the Wildcats didn’t cover the spread. The total points of 158 went over the pre-game line of 152.

Villanova led 45-36 at halftime and scored 41 points in the 2nd half while allowing 36. Though they didn’t dominate as expected, they still secured the win.

Villanova’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 86 points with a field goal percentage of 55.6%. Their effective field goal percentage was 63%, thanks in large part to their 76.7% shooting from inside the arc, hitting 23 of 30 two-point attempts. From beyond the arc, they connected on 7 of 24 threes, shooting 29.2%, and were efficient at the free-throw line, making 19 of 22 attempts for 86.4%.

Eric Dixon and Terrence Brown each scored 27 points, with Dixon shooting 69.2% overall and Brown hitting 42.9% from three. Wooga Poplar added 19 points, hitting 3 of 6 from deep, while Jo’el Emanuel and Dylan Jones each made 3 threes, with Emanuel shooting 50% from beyond the arc. Villanova also grabbed 12 offensive rebounds and dished out 19 assists in the win.

Villanova’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 72 points on 55% shooting from the field. The Wildcats allowed their opponent to connect on 23 of 30 two-point attempts, a 76% success rate.

From beyond the arc, Villanova held their opponent to 29% shooting, with 7 made threes on 24 attempts. They also sent their opponent to the line 22 times, where they hit 19 free throws, an 86% clip. Villanova allowed 12 offensive rebounds.