UConn vs Seton Hall, Providence vs Marquette Odds

Following a weekend in college basketball that showed that any team can fall at any moment, we are going to look at a couple of games that could make you some of that cold hard cash on Wednesday, January 18th. Eleven ranked teams fell over the weekend, and at least one more could follow suit during the mid-week slate. Let’s have a look at the best betting games for tomorrow so you can place your bets against their NCAA Basketball Odds.

Men’s NCAA Basketball Betting Picks & Options for Wednesday, Jan. 18th Games

UConn Huskies (-4) at Seton Hall Pirates

If you just glance at this game, you may blow by it with a Connecticut victory without a second thought. That would be a mistake. Seton Hall has been fantastic at home this season under new Head Coach Shaheen Holloway. The Pirates are 7-2 straight up in Newark and have covered in six of the eight games that presented an available spread. The Pirates aren’t just covering either, they are destroying the number by an average of +8.5 points per contest at home this season.

On the other side, UConn has covered just one spread since their December 17th victory over the Butler Bulldogs. The Huskies have won just a single game over their last five contests and covered just a single spread over their last seven games.

Seton Hall’s bread and butter is on the defensive side of the ball, where they are currently ranked 17th in the nation. They specialize in forcing opponents into difficult shot attempts, and rank ninth in the nation in three-point shooting defense. The Pirates are holding opponents to just 28% from behind the arc this season which could be a real advantage in this game if they can keep Jordan Hawkins and Tristan Newton in check from deep.

Providence Friars at Marquette Golden Eagles: Over 154 Points

We will stay in the Big East for the second game of the Wednesday slate, where Providence will take on Marquette in Wisconsin. A total of 154 points feels low, especially given the fact that both of these teams are fresh off of weekend losses, and neither play fantastic defense from a metrics standpoint this year.

Providence fell over the weekend against Creighton and only scored 67 points which is roughly twelve points below their season average. The Friars are ranked 59th in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency this season but rank 21st in adjusted offensive efficiency.

On the opposite side, Marquette averaged just a shade under 83 points per game on offense and ranks 83rd in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency. Look for both teams to come out focused on earning a much-needed league game that will likely carry conference tournament seeding implications. Expect both teams to end up in the 80’s in a dramatic game featuring two of the best forwards in the conference in Bryce Hopkins and Olivier Maxence-Prosper.

If you are looking for a moneyline play, the balance of Providence could be a nightmare for Marquette as the Friars boast five players averaging at least nine points per game.