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Seton Hall vs. Kansas Prediction and Odds for Thursday, December 1 (Pirates Plunder Jayhawks' Offense Early)

By Ben Heisler

Seton Hall Pirates head coach Shaheen Holloway gets into a defensive stance on the sidelines while coaching at the Prudential Center.
Seton Hall Pirates head coach Shaheen Holloway gets into a defensive stance on the sidelines while coaching at the Prudential Center. / Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
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Two coaches that played deep into the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament match up in the Big East - Big 12 Challenge in Lawrence, Kansas this evening, as Shaheen Holloway's Seton Hall Pirates face Bill Self and the No. 9 Kansas Jayhawks.

Holloway took St. Peter's all the way to the Elite Eight a season ago as a No. 15 seed before eventually falling to national championship runner-up North Carolina, coincidentally the team the Jayhawks defeated to win their sixth national championship in school history.

KU is 4-0 at Allen Fieldhouse this season, but are just 1-3 against the spread (ATS) in their home arena, finally getting it done in their most recent outing with a 32-point victory on Monday night against Texas Southern.

Here are the odds for tonight's showdown at "The Phog."

Seton Hall vs. Kansas Odds, Spread and Total

Seton Hall vs. Kansas Prediction and Pick

KU has gotten off to slow starts in many of their games this season, and with Holloway's pressure defense and snail pace on offense, I like the Pirates to cover the +5.5 in the early going of the first half.

The Jayhawks rank just 89th in offense efficiency this season, and their effective field goal percentage is nowhere near it should be for a team as talented shooting the ball as they are. KU ranks 105th in the country in EFG%, while also ranking outside the top 100 in both 2-point and 3-point percentage.

They also can't be trusted at the foul line, ranking 335th in college basketball at the charity stripe, shooting a dismal 62.3%.

As for Seton Hall, their offense has been ok, ranked 91st in the country in KenPom's adjusted offensive effiency (KU ranks 33rd at KenPom), and are top 36 defensively (KU is 13th). They're +3.3 in average first half margin offensively, and while that ranks right at 100th in the nation, it's enough with their defense to keep this game close before the more talented Jayhawks eventually figure out how to get guys like Gradey Dick and Jalen Wilson going.

I lean Jayhawks to cover for the game, but I much prefer the number on Seton Hall in the early going, and may look to take KU at a better number live.

Follow all of Ben's betting plays in real-time HERE!

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. 

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