Seton Hall Pirates vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Predictions, Picks, Odds and Betting Preview – NCAA March Madness Round of 64 – March 17, 2016

What in the world is happening to Seton Hall? The Pirates sealed a spot in the Big Dance for the first time since 2006 with an improbable championship win in the Big East Tournament. The Pirates upset title favorites Xavier and Villanova in the semis and finals, respectively, to capture their third league title.

The Pirates will look to create more history this coming Thursday when they lock horns with Gonzaga in the round of 64. Can Seton Hall continue its excellent form and win its first NCAA tournament game in 12 years?  Or will the Zags spoil their party? Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this first-round matchup and while you’re at it, you can check out our previews of Colorado vs. UConn and North Carolina vs. Florida Gulf Coast.

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March Madness No. 6 Seton Hall vs. No. 11 Gonzaga Preview

Where: Pepsi Center

When: Thursday, March 17, 9:57 PM ET

Line: Seton Hall Pirates (+1) vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs (-1); total: 145.5 – view all March Madness Lines

TV Broadcast: truTV

Betting on the Seton Hall Pirates

The Seton Hall Pirates will head into the national tournament with momentum on their side after capturing the Big East Tournament title in dramatic fashion at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. The Pirates edged past the highly-favored Villanova Wildcats, 69-67, in the final to grab their first Big East championship in 23 years.

Isaiah Whitehead starred for the Pirates in this contest, scoring 26 points, including the deciding three-point play with 18 seconds left. The Big East Tournament MVP has now scored at least 20 points in his last seven games. Whitehead has been magnificent for the Pirates this season, leading the team not only in scoring (18.4 PPG) but also in assists (5.0 APG) and blocks (1.5 BPG) as well.

The Pirates will need more of the same from Whitehead if they are to beat Gonzaga this coming Thursday. The Pirates will have their work cut out for them, however, against a Gonzaga defense that’s allowing just 66.2 points per game this season, 48^th in the entire nation.

For Seton Hall to unlock such a rock-solid defense, it needs to connect on its outside jumpers. The Pirates shot just 6-of-19 from beyond the arc in the win against the Wildcats. Seton Hall is shooting just 35.3 percent from 3-point land this season, good for 146^th in Division I.

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Betting on the Gonzaga Bulldogs

All is well in Zagville!

The Gonzaga Bulldogs booked a spot in the national tournament with a convincing 85-75 win over the Saint Mary’s Gaels in the WCC championship game on Tuesday night. It was the fifth consecutive victory for the Zags who earned their 18^th consecutive NCAA Tournament berth.

All five starters scored in double figures for the Bulldogs who have now won six of their last eight title showdowns with the Gaels. Eric McClellan led the way for the Zags in the championship game, scoring 20 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field. He was part of the Gonzaga backcourt that scored 19 of the Bulldogs’ final 21 points on Tuesday.

The Zags will look to extend their winning streak even further when they take on No. 6 Seton Hall in the first round this coming Thursday. Facing the Big East champions might be a daunting task but the Bulldogs will fancy their chances because of their phenomenal offense. Gonzaga is averaging 79.7 points per game this season, 28^th in the entire nation.

Aside from McClellan (10.6 PPG), three other players are averaging in double-figures for the Zags this season, namely Kyle Wiltjer (20.7 PPG), Domantas Sabonis (17.4 PPG) and Josh Perkins (10.3 PPG). The quartet combined for 73 huge points in the win against Saint Mary’s.

For the Zags to stand a chance against Pirates, they will need all four players to shoot the lights out right from the get-go. They will be severely tested, though, by a Seton Hall defense that’s allowing just 67.8 points per game this season, 76^th in Division I. Villanova got a taste of that suffocating defense in their recent championship clash, shooting just 8 of 23 from beyond the arc on Saturday. The Wildcats were 20 of 38 from 3-point range in the Big East Tournament prior to that game.

Writer’s Prediction

Seton Hall (+1) edges past Gonzaga, 62-58, to book a place in the round of 32.

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