Xavier Musketeers Look to Secure Home Court Advantage Against Seton Hall Pirates in Big East Opener
On Saturday afternoon, Seton Hall (8-4, 1-0 in the Big East) and Xavier (6-6, 0-1 Big East) will be squaring off in a Big East matchup. Seton Hall pulled off an impressive
Game outlook
On Saturday afternoon, Seton Hall (8-4, 1-0 in the Big East) and Xavier (6-6, 0-1 Big East) will be squaring off in a Big East matchup. Seton Hall pulled off an impressive upset in their conference opener, beating #5 UConn 75-60, however, Xavier was not able to replicate the same outcome, taking an 81-66 loss against St. John's. Tip-off is set for 2:00 PM EST from the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio and the game will be available on FS1.
Betting Odds
Moneyline: Pirates +140 | Musketeers -175
Spread: Pirates +3.5 (-110) | Musketeers -3.5 (-110)
Total: Over/Under 147 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Xavier will win straight-up is 64%.
Seton Hall Pirates
Seton Hall's impressive 15 point win over fifth-ranked UConn was no fluke, with Kadary Richmond leading the way with 23 points and 8 steals. Richmond, Davis, Dawes, and Bediako comprise their troubled four-man core, with Richmond leading the team in points and assists, Davis as their second highest scorer, Dawes as their top shooter and Bediako as their best interior player. KenPom ranks them 68th overall, with their offense being particularly effective; they score an average of 75.64 points per game and rank 50th in offensive efficiency while their defense, though slightly weaker, is just as reliable giving up an average of 69.36 points per game and ranking 101st in defensive efficiency. Seton Hall plays at a slower tempo, but has an impressive 5-4 record.