The UNLV Runnin' Rebels are making the most of their first postseason appearance since 2009.
The Rebels are college basketball odds underdogs tonight against a Seton Hall Pirates program with a 16-3 home mark they will be eager to defend when they host UNLV tonight.
Can the Rebels beat the March Madness odds and pull off the upset? Join me as I examine this NIT quarterfinal tournament matchup with free college basketball picks for UNLV and Seton Hall on Wednesday, March 27.
UNLV vs Seton Hall best odds
UNLV vs Seton Hall picks and predictions
While some higher profile Big East rivals chose to skip the National Invitation Tourney, the Seton Hall Pirates said yes to the invite and are three victories away from winning a national championship.
The Pirates have rolled to a 16-3 mark along with seven consecutive home victories in front of the Walsh Gymnasium faithful–they also won two straight NIT matchups but have its most difficult NIT matchup thus far Wednesday night with the UNLV Rebels.
Seton Hall was built on the old-school Big East way. Its slow-paced offense has poor shooters from everywhere on the court except for the charity stripe. The Pirates are scrappy on the offensive window, but UNLV can slow an already limited Seton Hall scoring offense.
UNLV plays a similar, slow-paced grind. They’ve drained a dreamy 55% from downtown during their two NIT matchups–that’s well above their 32% average, and the elite, three-point shooting defense of Seton Hall will bring them back to reality.
Seton Hall plays old-school, Big East defense. They are aggressive and physical; they dive for loose balls, get swipes, and block shots alongside the conference's top-five shooting defense from inside and beyond the arc.
The Pirates allow a robust 66 points per night at home, and UNLV will have difficulties with this Seton Hall defense. UNLV scores 72 points per game on the road, but they’ll have trouble shooting in that gym and its vocal Big East crowd.
UNLV is a physical defensive team with the Mountain West Conference's second-best shooting defense from beyond the arc and the third-best from inside. The Rebels blocked the second-most shots in their conference, and its third-best turnover percentage won’t help the turnover-prone Pirates score many buckets.
Finally, we have a ballgame with two programs playing snail-pace basketball against two physical stop units. Both groups boast good shot blockers and perimeter defenders who close out shooters well. UNLV has become too reliant on the triple, and I expect the Walsh Gymnasium faithful to play a large role in the Rebels' regression from downtown. This game ends Under the total.
My best bet: Under 141 (-110 at Caesars)
UNLV vs Seton Hall same-game parlay
Under 141
UNLV +5
Our best bet and same-game parlay is centered around stout defense and the Rebels' ability to cover the spread on the road.
UNLV is a team that covers well. They are 4-1-0 ATS in their previous five tilts and were 8-3-0 against the number as the away team this season. They meet a Seton Hall that is 2-3-0 ATS in its previous five tilts and 8-9-0 as the home favorite this season.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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UNLV vs Seton Hall spread and Over/Under analysis
- UNLV has covered the spread in eight of its previous nine clashes.
- UNLV has covered the Spread in 19 of its last 24 games (+13.50 Units / 51% ROI).
- Less than 147.5 points have been scored in six of the last seven Seton Hall home games.
- The Under is 3-2-0 over the Pirates' last five home games.
UNLV vs Seton Hall betting trend to know
The Under is 7-1 in the Pirates' last eight games as a home favorite of 0.5-6.5. Find more college basketball betting trends for UNLV vs. Seton Hall.
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UNLV vs Seton Hall game info
| Location: | Walsh Gymnasium, South Orange, NJ |
| Date: | Wednesday, March 27, 2024 |
| Tip-off: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN2 |
