UConn vs Seton Hall Basketball Prediction & Picks: Huskies set for fifth loss in six games?

After winning their first 14 games this season, the UConn Huskies have come crashing down to earth in a big way, losing four of their last five games.

Seton Hall is headed in the opposite direction after a so-so start, and they will be hoping to hand the Huskies yet another loss and significantly aid their NCAA Tournament hopes tonight as the two teams meet at the Prudential Center in Newark.

Tonight’s matchup between the #15 Huskies (15-4, 4-4 Big East) and Pirates (11-8, 4-4 Big East) is set for a 6:30 pm ET tip, and it will be televised on FS1.

After starting 14-0 and ascending to second in the college basketball rankings, UConn has hit the skids, and their only win in their last five games came against Creighton eleven days ago.

At the same time, Seton Hall has turned things around after starting 7-7 and losing their first three conference games.

But after beating the two worst teams in the Big East, the Pirates have a serious step up tonight against a team that is still in the mix for a high March Madness seed.

Can the Huskies get things back on track tonight? Read on for our UConn vs Seton Hall prediction, as well as our picks for this must-see Big East matchup.

UConn vs Seton Hall Odds

Odds are via Bovada Sportsbook as of Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at 6:05 am ET. This article may also include odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites.

Spread

• UConn -5 (-110)
• Seton Hall +5 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 135.5 (-110)
• Under 135.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• UConn -210
• Seton Hall +175

Is UConn Poised for More Trouble in Their Travels?

St. John’s isn’t a bad team, but few would have expected them to hand UConn a double-digit loss in Hartford on Saturday.

But that’s exactly what happened, as the Red Storm, who were a 14.5-point underdog and hadn’t won a true road game yet this season, defeated the Huskies 85-74 behind 19 points and 13 rebounds by Joel Soriano.

Prior to Saturday, UConn’s losses had all come on the road against teams who are currently ranked.

So, while those losses at Xavier, Providence, and Marquette may not have raised serious alarm bells, the loss to St. John’s does.

The Huskies haven’t been good enough defensively, with the Musketeers, Golden Eagles, and Red Storm all shooting above 50% from the field in their wins.

They also haven’t been as sharp offensively. In their 14-0 start, UConn

Season Shooting Splits for UConn

• First 14 Games: 397 of 841 (47.2%) FG, 135 of 368 (36.7%) 3PT, 262 of 473 (55.4%) 2PT
• Last Five Games: 123 of 305 (40.3%) FG, 40 of 131 (30.5%) 3PT, 83 of 174 (47.7%) 2PT

But while Saturday’s loss to St. John’s was certainly a low point, there was a potential positive for the Huskies.

After shooting 29.5% (13 of 44) from the field overall and 30.4% (7 of 23) from three in a four-game stretch, guard Jordan Hawkins made 9 of 16 shots from the field, including 4 of 9 from three, and was a perfect 9 of 9 from the free-throw line in a 31-point game for the Huskies.

Hawkins, the team’s second-leading scorer behind Adama Sanogo, needs to keep that up tonight against the Pirates, who rank 18th in the country in defensive efficiency and rank first in the Big East in opponents’ field goal percentage (39.9%) and second in opponents’ three-point field goal percentage (28.4%).

UConn vs Seton Hall Prediction and Picks

UConn vs Seton Hall Prediction: Seton Hall to win

UConn vs Seton Hall Picks: Seton Hall +5 (Best Value: Bovada Sportsbook & BetUS) & UConn/Seton Hall over 134.5 (BetUS)

UConn is catching Seton Hall at the wrong time, as the Pirates may be finding some consistency after an early rollercoaster under Shaheen Holloway.

Sure, there’s certainly only so much that you can take from wins over Butler, Georgetown, and DePaul, who are the three worst teams in the Big East.

But they appear to be headed in the right direction, and it is very encouraging that they had four players score in double figures in the wins at Georgetown and DePaul.

Combine that continued production with continued defensive success, and you have the ingredients for a potential upset. Will they pull it off? They may not, but I love the Pirates to at least keep it close until the end.