NCAA Basketball Betting Games On A Slow Day

It’s going to be another slow Friday night in the world of college basketball. We only have one significant Power 5 game, but we do have some other games with NCAA Tournament implications. We have found a couple of games that have caught our betting attention, and we’ll preview each of those games and give you our best NCAA Basketball betting advice.

Friday Night College Hoops Betting Action | NCAA Basketball Lines

Xavier Musketeers @ Seton Hall Pirates

Where: Prudential Center, Newark
College Basketball Lines

Time: 7:00 PM EST
TV: FS1

There was a lot of skepticism around Xavier when Sean Miller was brought back for a second time. Miller had left Arizona amid numerous recruiting scandals, which brought on an FBI probe. Miller ultimately escaped with very little damage, and was brought back to Xavier after Travis Steele was let go from the head coaching position.

People now are very happy that Miller has returned, as he has the Musketeers playing great basketball in the Big East. On Friday night, they will travel to Seton Hall to take on the Pirates. There are conference title implications surrounding this game, so it will be a big one.

Xavier is currently sitting in 2nd place in the Big East with a 12-5 record. They’re two games behind the conference-leading Warriors of Marquette. At 20-8 overall, Miller has the Musketeers sitting in a great spot, as they should have a good seed come NCAA Tournament time.

As for Seton Hall, first-year head coach, and Seton Hall alum Shaheen Holloway has had some rebuilding to do. Holloway’s squad has had its ups and downs this season, but are a respectful 16-12 overall. The Pirates are in sixth place in the Big East with a 9-8 record. Holloway knows that in order to make the NCAA Tournament, his team will more than likely have to win out.

Miller’s aggressive style and hard-nosed defense will give the Pirates fits on their home floor. Seton Hall is 10-4 at home, however, they have lost three out of their last four games. Xavier hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire on the road, as they sport a 5-4 record away from their home confines at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati.

We like the Xavier Musketeers in this one. They know that in order to have any chance at winning the regular season conference title that they need to win out and hope that Marquette slips up. We don’t see Xavier being favored by more than five or six points on the road.

Closely monitor the spread, and if it’s to your liking, we advise you to take Xavier. If it’s too many points, go with Seton Hall, as we don’t see Xavier blowing them out.

Iona Gaels @ Mount St. Mary Mountaineers

Where: Knott Arena, Emmitsburg, MD
College Basketball Lines

Time: 7:00 PM EST
TV: ESPN+

Rick Pitino has the Gaels on track to be an NCAA Tournament team. Quietly, the Hall of Famer has built Iona into a very good program. Winners of six in a row with a 20-7 overall record, the Gaels are sitting atop the MAAC with a 13-3 conference record.

They’ll take to the road to take on a struggling Mt. St. Mary’s squad. At 6-11 in the conference, and 10-18 overall, Mt. St. Mary’s is just looking to get to the end of the season. They’d love nothing more than to get an upset win over Pitino’s Gaels.

This should be a rather large spread. We like the Gaels unless the number is too big for your liking.