10* OVER Xavier/Seton Hall (BIG EAST TOY)

I love the way this end of season matchup sets up to be more of a competitive defensive affair, rather than a high-scoring "shootout." Xavier is 20-8, but just a pedestrian 5-4 on the road, while Seton Hall is 16-12, but a much more respectable 10-4 in front of the home town crowd. The Pirates play with revenge after a 73-70 loss at Xavier as eight-point underdogs on December 20th, which is significant to note, as Seton Hall has in fact seen the total go "over" the number in seven of its last ten in trying to avenge a SU road loss against an opponent. Xavier is No. 15 in the country, but it'll be desperate to turn things around before the start of the conference tournament, having lost three of its last four, including a tight 64-63 setback to Villanova as a 4.5-point favorite last time out. I have every reason to believe that this will be a faster-paced "shootout," rather than a "clamp-down" defensive affair; the play is the "under!"

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