The Villanova Wildcats are the two-time defending Big East Tournament champions, and tonight, they will look to make it three in a row, as they face the Seton Hall Pirates, who won the tourney in 2016. The Wildcats are +5,000 to repeat as national champions, while Seton Hall is priced at +50,000 to win the national title.
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Betting Preview for the Seton Hall Pirates vs. Villanova Wildcats College Basketball Game on March 16, 2019
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
When: Saturday, March 16, 2019, 6:30 PM ET
Line: Seton Hall Pirates (odds) vs. Villanova Wildcats (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Seton Hall Pirates (20-12 Overall / 9-9 Conference)
Seton Hall is peaking at just the right time. With an 81-79 upset win over the Markus Howard and the Marquette Golden Eagles on Friday, the Pirates have managed to extend their winning streak to four games, which dates back to the regular season. That stretch also includes Seton Hall’s 79-75 win against Villanova at home on Mar. 9. Against Marquette, Myles Powell and Quincy McKnight did most of the heavy lifting for the Pirates. Powell had 22 points, while McKnight had 18. Powell was nowhere to be found in an 80-72 road loss to Villanova on Jan. 27, but poured in 20 points with seven rebounds and five assists in a 79-75 win at home over the Wildcats on Mar. 9. McKnight, who is third on the team with 9.4 points per game, only had a total of six points in those two dates with Villanova. Powell paces the team with 22.9 points. Seton Hall averaged 73.8 points per game in the regular season and allowed 71.2 per contest.
The Pirates are 4-0 against the spread (ATS) in their last four games.
Betting on the Villanova Wildcats (24-9 Overall / 13-5 Conference)
The Wildcats refused to go out, as they remained alive in the Big East Tournament, booking a return ticket to the conference finals with a 71-67 overtime win over the Xavier Musketeers on Friday. Experience played a big role for the Wildcats in the Xavier game, as senior guard Phil Booth erupted for 28 points on 9-for-20 shooting, while another fourth-year Wildcat in Eric Paschall chipped in 12 points and five rebounds. Villanova shot poorly, making just 41.0 percent of its shots, but the Wildcats’ poise under pressure could not be quantified. Booth should be licking his chops over the prospect of facing Seton Hall again. He scored 25 points in an 80-52 win at home over the Pirates and 16 in the loss to Seton Hall. Villanova was sixth in the Big East in scoring with 74.6 points per game in the regular season, but led the conference in offensive efficiency per KenPom.
The over is 3-0 in Villanova’s last three games.
Writer’s Prediction
Villanova wins, 72-67.
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