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Andrew Rogers
Seton Hall (8) vs. N.C. State (9) Odds: March Madness Prediction
A pair of one-point losses are all that stand between Seton Hall and a six-game winning streak going into the NCAA Tournament – but the eighth-seeded Pirates know they can’t afford any more losses, narrow or otherwise, as the prepare to face ninth-seeded N.C. State in first-round Midwest Region action in Wichita, Kans. Seton Hall is coming off a heart-wrenching loss to Butler in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament.
NCAA Tournament Odds and Betting Analysis
The Pirates are kicking themselves for failing to build some late-season momentum, but the March Madness betting trends are in their favour as they seek their first NCAA Tournament victory since 2004 (they fell in the first round in each of the past two seasons). Seton Hall has covered in five consecutive games, and are 6-2-1 ATS in their past nine contests at neutral-site locales. N.C. State, on the other hand, has covered just one of its last five neutral-site games.
Seton Hall comes in having gone 19-12 O/U for the season – including an 11-4 mark in true road and neutral-site games, so bettors will be paying close attention to the total in this one. The Pirates have exceeded the number in eight of their previous 10 games overall, and are 5-2 O/U in their previous five non-conference contests. The Wolfpack are also a solid over option vs. non-conference foes, going over in five of their last seven encounters.
NC State Wolfpack
The Pirates aren’t the only team that effectively defends the 3-pointer. The Wolfpack limited opponents to just six 3s per game during the season, ranking inside the top 15 in the country. N.C. State struggled mightily away from PNC Arena, covering just four of 13 games – including back-to-back road and neutral-site losses as outright favourites to end the season. N.C. State does, however, boast the 33rd-ranked scoring offence at 81.2 points per game.
Seton Hall Pirates
Seton Hall comes in as one of the top passing and rebounding teams in the nation. The Pirates ranked just outside the top 40 in Division I in assists per game (15.8) and were 50th overall in total boards per contest (38.2). They also held their own from beyond the arc, shooting 36.4 percent from long range while limiting opponents to a 33.4-percent clip from outside. The over has converted in six of Seton Hall’s previous eight NCAA Tournament games.
