College Basketball Betting: Providence at Seton Hall
It’s been a topsy turvy college hoops season in the Big East, unless you’re talking about Villanova. The Wildcats have clinched the regular season title and at 27-2 are in line for a number one seed in the upcoming tournament. For the rest of the conference, it’s been months of scrounging for scraps. One such team is No. 24 Providence, who is 4-4 in their last eight, including a pair of defeats to Villanova. A solid RPI ranking of 22 means the Field of 68 is in their future, but losing on the road to Seton Hall Wednesday night will do nothing except edge them closer toward the bubble. With a 20-9 record and no signature out-of-conference victories, the Friars can ill afford to faceplant; too many worthy schools are sweating the selection committee’s decision, so beating “inferior” opponents is the best way to avoid their wrath. Here’s a preview and prediction for Wednesday’s action.
PROVIDENCE AT SETON HALL +2
The Friars boast one of the best guard-forward combos in the country in sophomore Kris Dunn and leading-scorer LaDontae Henton. The former ranks 5th in assists, while the latter sits 9th in points scored. Henton has netted 22 or more in five of six games — Dunn has dished 7 or more dimes in six of his last seven starts. They totaled 41 points in their February 14th win over the Pirates; both are legitimate Big East Player of the Year candidates, and each holds the keys to Providence’s present and future hopes. The Friars have decent size up front, although seven-footer Carson Desrosiers could miss his third straight game with an injured knee. They outrebounded Marquette 45-25 on Sunday and forced 15 turnovers. Seton Hall can’t shoot, so the battle of the glass will be a deciding factor in the outcome.
The Pirates were 13-3 on January 10th. They are 3-9 since. An injury to freshman guard Isaiah Whitehead and sophomore Jaren Sina’s surprise exit from the team has contributed heavily to the decline. Leading-scorer Sterling Gibbs’ suspension for throwing a punch in a loss to Villanova hasn’t helped, even though they managed to slip past lowly Creighton on Saturday without him. Gibbs is back for this one and he will be needed to spring the upset. Whitehead dropped 20 in the Valentine’s Day loss to Providence, and forward Angel Delgado ripped down 15 boards. However, 19 turnovers ultimately doomed them, and it’s sloppy, undisciplined play that has plagued them during the last two months. If they take care of the ball and find a way to convert from long range, they are capable of getting the W at home.
Providence is 14-10-2 ATS overall and 6-5-1 ATS on the road. Seton Hall is 9-4-1 ATS at home, but 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven overall. Henton and Dunn are too good to let the Friars stumble. Back the visitors.
Bet Providence -2
