Pinnacle -4½ -107  BET365 -4½ -110 SportsInteraction -4½ -110 5DIMES -4½ -110 888Sport -4½ -110

Posted at 12:30 PM EST

SETON HALL -4½ -107 over Butler

Nitro: On FS1 in the USA/Canada Sports group

6:30 PM EST. This price opened at -6½ but was quickly bet down and now we’re going to trust that we’re getting the favorite at a favorable price. The Bulldogs had a very strong November and December, but as they headed into a brutal Big East gauntlet, they started taking their lumps. It’s hard to grind your way through such a deep league. Butler (they were 14-1, No. 11 AP, No. 5 KenPom at one point) ranks fourth in the country in defensive efficiency and 329th in tempo, but it was disconcerting to see Kamar Baldwin go through a recent shooting slump. The Bulldogs almost coughed up a 23-point lead at St. John’s even though the Red Storm’s leading scorer, Mustapha Heron, was out with an injury, and their second-leading scorer, L.J. Figueroa, didn’t have a point. They just lost to G-Town, they’re 4-6 in their last 10 games and they are getting a little too much respect here.

Meanwhile, There are a lot of things to like about the Hall — Myles Powell most of all, obviously — but what stands out is its mental toughness. That was apparent when the Pirates (10-4, No. 20 KenPom) beat Maryland at home not only without Powell (who was recovering from a concussion) but also without their third-leading scorer, 6-10 junior forward Sandro Mamukelashvili, who broke his wrist (dude has been back for a few games now). Powell has been more effective at playing off of his teammates instead of trying to win games by himself but the Pirates have failed to cover in two straight, which includes a loss to Providence last time out. Yeah, Butler is tough and we hate to spot defensive juggernauts points but in this instance, it’s a true bargain that we’re not going to miss.

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