Seton Hall vs Connecticut: Betting Odds, Picks, and Predictions (2/16/22)

Seton Hall vs Connecticut Betting Odds

At the time of this writing, the Big East is projected to have seven teams make the tournament. That’s as many as the Big Ten or the Big 12.

These are two of those projected teams.

Connecticut has been a force all season, only slipping with injury issues. The Huskies are 17-7 overall and 8-5 in conference play.

Meanwhile, Seton Hall has been Jekyll and Hyde. The Pirates went 9-1 in non-conference season before starting Big East play at 3-6. The Pirates have won four of five since.

However, this will be one of the team’s biggest tests. Can Kevin Willard’s Pirates handle Dan Hurley’s Huskies?

Seton Hall Pirates Odds

Seton Hall is a good basketball team.

But the Pirates have been underperforming. In conference-only play, the Pirates are sixth in offensive efficiency and sixth in defensive efficiency. Despite winning three of the last five games, they’ve covered in only two of them.

The Pirates managed to cover a nine-point spread against Villanova, but Seton Hall is a good matchup for the Wildcats.

Villanova works the ball around the perimeter and looks for an open 3-point shot. But Seton Hall allows one of the lowest 3-point rates in the nation, funneling everyone to the interior and then using length to its advantage.

That type of defense may not work against Connecticut – more on that later.

Offensively, this game might come down to injuries. At the time of this writing, there are currently five Pirates on the injury list. The most important among them is Bryce Aiken (concussion).

Aiken is likely Seton Hall’s most important player. He runs the second unit and has the highest ORtg of any player.

Keep an eye on Aiken’s status and the rest of the injury report before firing on this game.

Connecticut Huskies Odds

The Huskies are finally healthy – minus minor contributor Akok Akok.

So, what’s going on?

The Huskies have lost three of their five games – including dropping a big home game to Creighton. The Huskies are also just 1-4 against the spread during that stretch.

UConn is a huge, imposing, interior-oriented team that dominates you on interior defense and dominates on the offensive boards.

Over the first three months of the season, the Huskies gave up over 1.00 points per possession in just two games. UConn has now allowed over that number in four of its last five games. It’s not just opponents shooting hot from 3, either.

The interior defense just hasn’t been there. Season-long, the Huskies are fourth nationally in 2-point defense and fifth in block rate. The blocks are gone, and the 2-point percentage allowed has gone up.

The offensive tenants are still there. RJ Cole runs the point while Adama Sanogo and Tyrese Martin grab offensive boards like crazy. The Huskies haven’t been shooting great but are staying above 1.00 points per possession on a game-by-game basis.

Seton Hall vs Connecticut Prediction and Pick

My pick: Connecticut -5 (-110 at PointsBet)

Both teams want to play this game on the interior, as both are sub-225 in 3-point rate.

The Huskies are better suited to play that game.

While Seton Hall has the length, the Huskies have the athleticism and rebounding to overcome that. Plus, UConn runs slightly taller at the three and four.

Moreover, Connecticut’s interior-motion defensive metrics are better than Seton Hall’s.

Finally, it’s a solid buy-low spot for a Huskies team that has been flailing recently. Connecticut dropped a game to Seton Hall earlier this season, and it will be looking to get its revenge.

And with all the injury uncertainty surrounding the Pirates, I don’t feel comfortable backing them at all.