Creighton Blue Jays vs. Seton Hall Pirates College Basketball prediction, preview
While the main course on this Sunday is clearly NFL Week 18, it’s always nice to have a little appetizer on the hardwood. That’s exactly what we get with this noon tip between Creighton and Seton Hall at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.
The Pirates are off to a tremendous start to the season, sitting at 12-2 overall. The losses have come to USC in Maui, and a home loss to a Villanova squad that just might be one of the most underrated teams in the country. That loss to ‘Nova is the only time Seton Hall has lost this season at home (7-1 SU) or as the betting favorite (8-1 SU).
Creighton, on the other hand, has not fared well away from Omaha. While the Blue Jays are off to a 7-1 start at home, they are just 2-4 in all other games (1-2 road, 1-2 neutral). Creighton is also just 1-4 straight up as the betting underdog this season, with that lone win also being its only true road win — +3.5 at Xavier, which has been wildly inconsistent and struggled.
Seton Hall’s calling card this season has been defense, ranking 13th in defensive efficiency on KenPom. This isn’t the Creighton teams of year’s past that can score at ease, and I think it will struggle with an early easy coast road tip against elite defense. We’re getting a discount here on the better team playing in a good schedule spot at home.