Saint Peter's Peacocks vs Seton Hall Pirates prediction: Seton Hall's imported shooters debut against Saint Peter's turnover pressure
Shaheen Holloway rebuilt his backcourt around shot-makers, and the first test comes against a Peacocks defense built to take the ball away.
| Spread | Seton Hall -19.5 |
|---|---|
| Total (over/under) | 133.5 |
- Expect a slow, physical game in Newark where Seton Hall's rim protection grinds down a Saint Peter's offense that struggled to score inside last season.
- Watch Saint Peter's ball pressure against Seton Hall's new guards, with Holloway saying no one has emerged as the starting point guard.
- Seton Hall is favored by 20.5, down from 21, and the total slipped to 136.5; both teams played at a slow pace last season, ranking 339th and 306th.
Another rebuild, same opening night
For the fourth straight year, Seton Hall and Saint Peter's open the college season against each other, and for the fourth straight year the Pirates look like a different team. Only 17.9% of last season's Seton Hall minutes return. Saint Peter's isn't much more settled at 26.5%. That makes last season's numbers a rough sketch rather than a portrait, but the sketch still favors the home side. Seton Hall finished last season 50th nationally in adjusted net efficiency (points per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponents). Saint Peter's finished 250th.
The series has gone one way. Seton Hall won 77-50 a year ago, though the 2024 opener was a 57-53 grinder. The Big East coaches picked the Pirates ninth, and this is the first chance to see whether Holloway's latest overhaul can climb above that.
Can the Pirates finally shoot
Last season's Seton Hall offense was the problem. The Pirates ranked 362nd in how often they shot threes and 340th in effective field goal percentage, the shooting measure that counts threes as worth 1.5 twos. Holloway went to the portal for answers.
Rodney Brown Jr. shot 38.2% from three at Loyola Marymount and hit the game-winner in the exhibition against Monmouth. Kareem Thomas shot 44.7% from deep at Dartmouth. Del Jones brings the volume after averaging 17.2 points at Radford. Nobody has claimed the point guard job yet; Holloway said around Oct. 20 that he had "three or four" candidates to be the primary ball-handler.
Availability is unsettled. Thomas was limited in the second half of the Monmouth exhibition with a groin injury, and Fanta Kabba (hamstring) and returning guard Trey Parker (undisclosed) also sat that game. All three carry injury tags, and Seton Hall hasn't said who plays tonight. Elijah Fisher, the lone returning starter, was still seeking a fifth year as of Oct. 20, with no ruling made public since. Holloway also lost two European recruits who couldn't get cleared.
Steals on both ends, blocks on one
These are two of the most disruptive defenses in the country, at least by last season's standard. Seton Hall ranked 3rd nationally in steal rate and Saint Peter's ranked 7th. The Peacocks forced turnovers on 21.0% of opponent possessions, 18th in Division I, and that pressure will hit a Seton Hall backcourt still sorting out who handles the ball.
The edge flips near the basket. Seton Hall led the nation in block rate, and Florida Atlantic transfer Devin Williams averaged 2.5 blocks last season. Saint Peter's made just 47.2% of its twos, 346th nationally, and leading returner Bryce Eaton shot 36.5% from the field. Points at the rim will be scarce.
The Peacocks' best path is second chances. They grabbed 37.2% of their own misses, 16th nationally, while Seton Hall ranked 278th in defensive rebounding. If Saint Peter's keeps this close, it will be on putbacks.
A slow floor and a falling total
Neither coach wants a track meet. Seton Hall played at the 339th-fastest pace last season and Saint Peter's at the 306th, so possessions will be limited. That shapes the market. The total opened in our feed at 138 and has drifted to 136.5, while the spread moved from Seton Hall -21 to -20.5.
Fewer possessions make a 20-point margin harder to reach, and both defenses fouled often last season: Seton Hall ranked 334th in opponent free throw rate and Saint Peter's ranked 358th. A steady trip to the line would slow the game further. The other variable is the new Seton Hall shooting. If Brown and Jones hit early, the Pirates can build a margin even in a low-possession game.
What to watch
- Whether Thomas plays through the groin injury
- Saint Peter's offensive rebounding against a Seton Hall team that struggled on the defensive glass
- Who brings the ball up for the Pirates in the first five minutes
Saint Peter's Peacocks vs Seton Hall Pirates line movement and odds
| Book | Peacocks ML | Pirates ML | Peacocks spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | +1350 | -5000 | +19.5 (-110) | o133.5 (-110) |
| BetRivers | — | — | +19.5 (-114) | o133.5 (-109) |
| DraftKings | +1600 | -4000 | +19.5 (-108) | o133.5 (-115) |
| ESPN BET | +2000 | -7500 | +19.5 (-110) | o133.5 (-115) |
| Fanatics | +2200 | -6000 | +19.5 (-105) | o134 (-110) |
| FanDuel | +1600 | -4500 | +19.5 (-110) | o133.5 (-110) |
| Hard Rock Bet | — | — | +19.5 (-110) | o133.5 (-110) |
| Caesars | — | — | +19 (-110) | o133.5 (-110) |
Where the money is on Saint Peter's Peacocks vs Seton Hall Pirates
On the Kalshi moneyline: Saint Peter's Peacocks: 79% of bets, 35% of the money; Seton Hall Pirates: 21% of bets, 65% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Seton Hall Pirates -20.5: 47% of bets, 4% of the money; Saint Peter's Peacocks +20.5: 53% of bets, 96% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 133.5: 42% of bets, 46% of the money; Under 133.5: 58% of bets, 54% of the money.
Saint Peter's Peacocks vs Seton Hall Pirates stats (this season)
| Stat | Saint Peter's Peacocks | Seton Hall Pirates |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Adjusted offensive efficiency | 103.6 (269th of 365) | 111.1 (136th of 365) |
| Adjusted defensive efficiency | 111.2 (220th of 365) | 94.4 (14th of 365) |
| Adjusted net efficiency | -7.6 (250th of 365) | 16.8 (50th of 365) |
Key players
- Del Jones (Seton Hall): He averaged 17.2 points on a 29.1% usage rate at Radford last season and is a candidate to carry the offense.
- Rodney Brown Jr. (Seton Hall): He made 87 threes at a 38.2% clip last season, the volume shooting Seton Hall lacked.
- Kareem Thomas (Seton Hall): He shot 44.7% from three at Dartmouth last season but is carrying a groin injury from the exhibition.
- Devin Williams (Seton Hall): His 2.5 blocks per game last season fit a defense that led the nation in block rate.
- Bryce Eaton (Saint Peter's): He averaged 11.1 points and 3.9 assists last season with a 25.5% usage rate, the team's heaviest returning load.
- Bryson Wilson (Saint Peter's): He averaged 9.9 points and 4.4 rebounds at Binghamton last season.
- Elijah Perkins (Saint Peter's): He started 19 games last season and averaged 1.1 steals, part of the Peacocks' pressure defense.
Numbers that matter
| Seton Hall block rate, last season | 18.7% | First in Division I, a problem for a Saint Peter's team that ranked 346th in two-point shooting. |
|---|---|---|
| Seton Hall returning minutes | 17.9% | Almost the whole rotation is new, so last season's numbers are only a loose guide. |
| Saint Peter's offensive rebound rate, last season | 37.2% | Ranked 16th nationally, against a Seton Hall defense that ranked 278th on the defensive glass. |
| Saint Peter's forced turnover rate, last season | 21.0% | Ranked 18th, a test for a Seton Hall backcourt without a settled point guard. |
| Current spread | -20.5 | Seton Hall's number has dipped from -21 since our feed first saw the game. |
Saint Peter's Peacocks vs Seton Hall Pirates: quick answers
Who is favored in Saint Peter's Peacocks vs Seton Hall Pirates?
Seton Hall is favored by 19.5 points (Seton Hall -19.5).
What is the over/under for Saint Peter's Peacocks vs Seton Hall Pirates?
The total is 133.5 points.
When is Saint Peter's Peacocks vs Seton Hall Pirates?
Monday, November 2, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET.
Where is Saint Peter's Peacocks vs Seton Hall Pirates played?
Prudential Center, Newark, NJ.
Has the line moved for Saint Peter's Peacocks vs Seton Hall Pirates?
Yes: Saint Peter's Peacocks opened +21.5 and is now +19.5, and the total moved from 139 to 133.5 (consensus of the regulated US sportsbooks since we first saw the game).
Where is the money on Saint Peter's Peacocks vs Seton Hall Pirates?
On the Kalshi moneyline: Saint Peter's Peacocks: 79% of bets, 35% of the money; Seton Hall Pirates: 21% of bets, 65% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Seton Hall Pirates -20.5: 47% of bets, 4% of the money; Saint Peter's Peacocks +20.5: 53% of bets, 96% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 133.5: 42% of bets, 46% of the money; Under 133.5: 58% of bets, 54% of the money.