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How to Watch
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
Watch Online: Fox Sports Go
Odds
(via bet365)
Spread: Creighton -1.5
Total: 147.5
Moneyline: N/A
The Creighton Bluejays and Seton Hall Pirates are tied in the loss column with three Big East losses apiece. That makes Wednesday night’s matchup between the two programs all the more interesting.
Moves will be made in this face-off between the Jays and Pirates. It is an imperative showdown between two teams still trying to chase the first-place Villanova Wildcats. Speaking of ‘Nova, they handed Seton Hall a loss last time around. Creighton, meanwhile, earned a season sweep of UConn with their 74-66 win over the weekend in Storrs. That was a big win for the Jays, who’d lost two in a row entering play Saturday. The Hall, meanwhile, lost a nail-biter that ended rather controversially, and have lost two of their last three.
Coincidentally, that other loss came to Creighton. The Bluejays shellacked The Hall 89-53 out in Omaha. So, Seton Hall is seeking revenge on their home floor this evening. If Seton Hall is to win, the victory over the Bluejays will be the highest-ranked KenPom win they’ve picked up this season. Right now, that honor goes to 46th-ranked Penn State, who Seton Hall beat back in December. Thus far, they are 0-4 against teams ranked in the Top 40 at the moment, earning losses to ‘Nova, Creighton, the Oregon Ducks and Louisville Cardinals.
Creighton is a mere 1.5-point favorite in this one, but they’ve got an edge in this game. It comes on offense, as the Jays outrank the Pirates in a litany of offensive categories. The Pirates do outrank them at the FT line and in FTRate, so if this turns into a free throw game the Pirates do have an edge there. But if not, it will be tough sledding. Seton Hall will be tasked with stopping the eighth-best team in the nation in 2PT FG% and 62nd-best team in 3PT FG%. They’ll do so with a defense ranked 110th against 2-pointers and 282nd vs. 3-pointers. One side is worse than the others, and considering how often Creighton shoots the 3, it could be a big issue. Especially since Seton Hall is 171st in the nation in 3PT FG%.
This’ll be an intriguing one to say the very least. I think Creighton picks up the win here, but it could be a close one. If the Pirates can create a flurry of offensive opportunities then they can perhaps pick up a big W. But if not, this one will likely side with the Bluejays.