The Seton Hall Pirates take on the Villanova Wildcats in Villanova, PA. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Peacock.
Villanova is favored by 7.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -375. The total is set at 131.5 points.
Here’s my Seton Hall vs. Villanova predictions and college basketball picks for February 4, 2026.
Seton Hall vs Villanova Prediction
My Pick: Seton Hall +7.5 (Play to +7)
My Seton Hall vs Villanova best bet is on the Pirates to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Seton Hall vs. Villanova Odds
| Seton Hall Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -110 | 131.5 -115 / -105 | +290 |
| Villanova Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -110 | 131.5 -115 / -105 | -375 |
- Seton Hall vs Villanova spread: Villanova -7.5
- Seton Hall vs Villanova over/under: 131.5 points
- Seton Hall vs Villanova moneyline: Seton Hall +290, Villanova -375
Seton Hall vs Villanova College Basketball Betting Preview
Seton Hall Basketball
Seton Hall is one of the hardest-playing teams in the country. The Pirates’ stifling defense has helped them far exceed preseason expectations this season. Shaheen Holloway’s group is allowing just 64.2 points per game, the seventh-lowest mark nationally.
The Pirates ended a four-game slide with back-to-back home wins last week over conference bottom-feeders Xavier and Marquette. Sitting at 16-6 overall and 6-5 in Big East play, the Pirates are very much alive for an at-large bid with strong play the rest of the way.
Seton Hall’s defense is extremely opportunistic, ranking eighth nationally in turnover rate and top-two nationally in both steal rate and block rate. 5-foot-10 Adam “Budd” Clark is extremely pesky as a point-of-attack defender, while interior anchors Stephon Payne and Najai Hines have been elite rim protectors.
Offensively, this team definitely has its flaws, with DePaul being the only Big East team ranked behind them in offensive efficiency. The Pirates rely heavily on points off turnovers and second-chance opportunities to compensate.
Led by the physicality and athleticism of Payne and Hines, Seton Hall ranks 17th nationally in offensive rebounding rate.
Even though the Pirates struggle to shoot from long range (28.3% in Big East play), they still have a couple of quality shot-makers in AJ Staton-McCray (36%) and Takai Simpkins (42%).
Villanova Basketball
Kevin Willard has quickly restored Villanova to its place near the top of the Big East. The Wildcats are 16-5 overall and 7-3 in conference play, fueled by a balanced offensive attack and excellent 3-point shooting.
Villanova ranks second in the Big East in 3-point attempt rate and is converting at nearly a 37% clip, good for the 41st-best mark nationally. Bryce Lindsay has been an elite, high-volume 3-point shooter, while supporting pieces Tyler Perkins, Devin Askew and Matt Hodge have all been very effective, as well.
Another key component of this offense is the playmaking of freshman Acaden Lewis, who's steadily improved over the course of the season. Lewis has struggled from behind the arc (24%), but his ability to get into the paint and create for others has been outstanding. Lewis averaged more than six assists per game in January.
Defensively, this group has been rock solid, ranking 41st nationally in efficiency, per KenPom. One weakness is that big man Duke Brennan isn't much of a rim protector, which is why Villanova sits bottom-30 nationally in block rate.
Brennan has, however, been excellent on the glass, ranking eighth nationally at 10.6 rebounds per game.
Seton Hall vs. Villanova Betting Analysis
One of the reasons I love the Big East is that it offers a true double round-robin schedule. That allows the back half of the season to be evaluated using meaningful data from the first matchup.
Will tonight’s game look similar to Villanova’s 64-56 road win at Seton Hall on December 23? I expect a similarly slow-paced, defense-heavy battle.
There are some notable personnel differences, including Lewis’ development since that game, Hines being inactive for the Pirates in the first meeting, and Clark getting into early foul trouble and playing just 20 minutes.
Speaking of Clark, Willard’s game plan encouraged him to shoot inside the arc rather than allowing him to set up teammates, and Clark finished 1-for-11 from the field. I expect a similar approach, making the over on his points prop worth consideration.
As for the spread, I'll be looking to take the points with Seton Hall. I really liked the way the Pirates defended in the first matchup, and they've played at a high level at that end of the floor all season. Seton Hall shot an abysmal 33% from the field in that game, and it's hard to imagine it shoots that poorly again
My Pick: Seton Hall +7.5 (Play to +7)
