The UConn Huskies take on the Seton Hall Pirates in Newark, NJ. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on truTV.
UConn is favored by 5.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -310. The total is set at 131.5 points.
Here’s my UConn vs. Seton Hall prediction and college basketball picks for January 13, 2026.
UConn vs Seton Hall Prediction
My Pick: Seton Hall +5.5 (Play to +5)
My UConn vs Seton Hall 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.
UConn vs. Seton Hall Odds
| UConn Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -110 | 131.5 -110 / -110 | -310 |
| Seton Hall Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -110 | 131.5 -110 / -110 | +220 |
- UConn vs Seton Hall spread: UConn -5.5
- UConn vs Seton Hall over/under: 131.5 points
- UConn vs Seton Hall moneyline: UConn -310, Seton Hall +220
UConn vs Seton Hall College Basketball Betting Preview
UConn Basketball
UConn still sits atop the Big East as the conference's clear standard-bearer. The Huskies are the lone remaining undefeated team in Big East play and a heavy favorite to capture the league crown at Madison Square Garden in March.
That said, their recent form hasn't been quite as dominant as their full-season resume suggests. Since January 1, UConn ranks just 26th nationally, per Bart Torvik, which includes barely surviving an overtime battle at Providence.
The Huskies' offense remains the team's calling card, and the personnel is loaded. Tarris Reed Jr. has been a monster on the interior, finishing through contact and punishing switches.
Silas Demary Jr. controls games with the ball in his hands, dictating tempo and consistently putting pressure on the defense as a downhill creator.
On the wings, Alex Karaban, Solo Ball and Braylon Mullins stretch the floor and punish help, making UConn extremely difficult to load up against. Mullins, in particular, has shown some increased dynamism lately, racking up 40 points in the last two contests thanks to some deadeye perimeter marksmanship.
The Huskies’ execution has consistently been elite under this coaching staff, exhibiting pristine spacing, screening angles and crisp decision-making.
What’s been slightly surprising is just how reliable the defense has been. Reed and Eric Reibe have provided sterling rim protection within a scheme that’s helped UConn climb to 10th nationally in opponent 2-point percentage defense.
Even during the early 2026 lull, the Huskies’ ability to guard the paint and finish possessions keeps their floor incredibly high.
Seton Hall Basketball
Seton Hall is built exactly the way the best Shaheen Holloway basketball teams tend to look: hyper-athletic, nasty on defense and comfortable dragging opponents into a street fight. This is one of the most disruptive defensive units in the country, and the numbers paint a shockingly impressive story.
Thanks largely to rim erasers Najai Hines and Stephon Payne, the Pirates lead the nation in block rate and rank fourth nationally in opponent 2-point percentage allowed. Nothing comes easy inside. Having two different centers capable of anchoring the paint means the Pirates have no drop-off for 40 minutes.
The havoc doesn’t stop at the rim. The perimeter group led by Adam "Budd" Clark, AJ Staton-McCray and Mike Williams fuels a defense that also leads the country in steal rate. That trio is quick, aggressive and physical at the point of attack, jumping passing lanes and forcing ball handlers to speed up.
The Pirates aren't especially big in the backcourt, but they’re strong and relentless, and that combination makes Seton Hall a nightmare to play against.
Questions arise on the offensive side. Seton Hall can bog down in the half-court, leaning heavily on Clark to create off the bounce and manufacture pull-up jumpers late in possessions. When those looks don’t fall, second chance points become critical, with Payne and Hines doing much of the damage on the offensive glass.
It’s a workable formula, but one that leaves little margin for error against stout defensive teams.
Still, the Pirates have solid depth, defensive versatility and a clear identity. In the physical Big East, that profile gives Seton Hall a real chance to shorten games and continue building an impressive postseason resume.
UConn vs. Seton Hall Betting Analysis
Seton Hall has become a house of horrors for Dan Hurley and UConn. The Huskies have lost four straight games in Newark, and the Prudential Center (aka The Rock) has consistently played above its weight when these two meet.
Hurley’s frustrations against his alma mater have become a true thorn in UConn’s side.
From a matchup perspective, this profiles as a grind. Six of the last eight meetings have gone under the total, and this one sets up similarly. Both defenses are built to force long, uncomfortable possessions, which shrinks variance and inflates the value of points with the underdog.
Seton Hall’s disruption, both at the rim and in passing lanes, is exactly the kind of physicality that could give UConn issues.
That’s especially relevant given UConn’s recent ball security concerns. The Huskies rank just 10th of 11 teams in Big East play in turnover rate, a surprising number for a team that relies so heavily on execution and spacing.
Seton Hall leads the nation in steal rate and thrives when games slow down into half-court brawls.
Given the situation, pace and venue, I like the outlook for the host Pirates. In a slow, defensive game inside a hostile building, the points matter.
I'll take Seton Hall +5.5, betting it down to +5.
My Pick: Seton Hall +5.5 (Play to +5)
