The Seton Hall Pirates visit the Providence Friars on Friday night in the Big East opener for a Seton Hall team that has one of the nation’s stingiest defenses. The Pirates are up against a Providence team that has one of the most efficient scoring groups in college basketball. Seton Hall is an underdog on the road here despite their 10-1 start to the season. Find out if I think that is justified as I make my Seton Hall vs Providence prediction.
Our Seton Hall vs Providence Pick
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Seton Hall Pirates @ Providence Friars
- Date & Time: Friday, December 19, 2025, 6:30 PM ET
- Venue: Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, Rhode Island
- Broadcast: FS1
Key Storylines
Seton Hall enters this game with a 10-1 record and a four-game winning streak, most recently dispatching Rutgers 81-59 behind a dominant defensive performance that limited the Scarlet Knights to under 60 points. A.J. Staton-McCray leads the Pirates with 14.3 points per game, spearheading a balanced roster that has thrived on its defensive intensity.
Seton Hall’s defense ranks sixth in the nation in points allowed per game at 61.4 points per game. However, the Pirates’ defense could have a difficult night against a Providence team averaging better than 91 points per game.
This is the first game of the Big East schedule for Seton Hall this season. They will try to get off to a good start in conference play, but it is never easy to win on the road in a conference with as much quality as this one.
Providence is 7-5 and has split its last two games, losing their Big East opener last time out. They scored 110 points in a double-overtime loss to Butler, highlighted by a 32-point explosion from Jason Edwards that showcased his scoring prowess. The Friars have been lethal at home, posting a perfect 6-0 mark on their home floor. Defensive lapses have been costly for the Friars, as we saw against Butler, and they will try to avoid similar defensive issues here.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- Seton Hall is 21-20 all-time against Providence.
- Providence has won three straight games against Seton Hall.
- The Friars are 7-5 against the spread this season.
- Seton Hall is 7-4 against the spread entering Friday’s play.
- Providence has gone over the total in 9 of its 12 games.
- The under has hit in 6 of Seton Hall’s first 11 outings.

