Closest to the Pin Round 26: Seton Hall
Update: Tuesday, February 15 (Game Results). With the Cat’s 60-57 victory at Seton Hall, we congratulate five VU Hoops readers who took medals in this round. Gold Medal: Jmac’09 (64-57), earning 5.0 points; Silver Medal: Beardog (57-61) earning 3.0 points; Bronze Medals: DMC (65-60), Pete (aliti13) (65-60) and Pena Power (67-58) earning 1.0 point each.  Our updated leader board is provided below.
VUHoops vs. Vegas: Based on the average predicted scores of the VUHoops Crowd and the posted Vegas line, we would have lost $200 by betting ‘Nova -3.5 (loss) and the Over (loss). The details follow. With the double loss, we drop to +$600 for the season.
| VU Hoops | Vegas | Bet | Actual | Result | |
| Spread | ‘Nova -6.0 | ‘Nova -3.5 | ‘Nova -3.5 | Nova by 3 | LOSS |
| Total | 140.0 | 137.5 | OVER | 117 | LOSS |
Leader Board After 26 Rounds
| Reader | Points |
| BarneyRubble | 21.0 |
| Hugh Jass | 21.0 |
| Beardog | 18.5 |
| regred | 17.5 |
| Pat’12 | 15.0 |
| chuck st.petersburg | 14.5 |
| Joe | 14.5 |
| TC’87 | 13.5 |
| novafan95 | 12.5 |
| Robertrise | 11.0 |
| hit the bid | 10.5 |
| Joey | 10.5 |
| Mouph Man | 10.5 |
| Nervous Nelly | 10.5 |
| NovaFlyer | 10.0 |
| Palsgraf | 10.0 |
| TK87 | 9.5 |
| mj | 9.0 |
| Pena Power | 8.0 |
| Two in the Pinkston | 8.0 |
| Chicken Dinner | 7.5 |
| NovaCat94 | 7.5 |
| Dj pizzle | 7.0 |
| mfc4293 | 7.0 |
| REPRESENT804 | 7.0 |
| DP5 | 6.5 |
| friartownmayor | 6.5 |
| Kittlesfan95 | 6.5 |
| Steph | 6.5 |
| mattymo | 5.5 |
| Clarkkell | 5.0 |
| honey badger | 5.0 |
| Jmac’09 | 5.0 |
| Kait’08 | 5.0 |
| marty1029 | 5.0 |
| Old School | 5.0 |
| SeanDon | 5.0 |
| gaparch | 4.5 |
| Stevie V | 4.5 |
| Andy’06 | 4.0 |
| Colt | 4.0 |
| dom | 4.0 |
| Ed’08 | 4.0 |
| doctor feelgoodes | 3.5 |
| Jimmy | 3.5 |
| Arctic Cat | 3.0 |
| Bill ’77 | 3.0 |
| CJ | 3.0 |
| DMC | 3.0 |
| Ed’77 | 3.0 |
| Mark Anderson | 3.0 |
| miles’88 | 3.0 |
| Novachamps22 | 3.0 |
| Schitzengigles | 3.0 |
| Simple’07 | 3.0 |
| Tommyboy | 3.0 |
| cdtoffers | 2.5 |
| Pete (Aliti 13) | 2.5 |
| super nova | 2.5 |
| David ’06 | 2.0 |
| Lou ’06 | 2.0 |
| pttam7yanks | 2.0 |
| Bri’13 | 1.5 |
| CMM | 1.5 |
| EG’77 | 1.5 |
| Esto | 1.5 |
| FLM’33 | 1.5 |
| Mark A | 1.5 |
| mprams | 1.5 |
| Johnnyb1 | 1.0 |
| Loser Cruiser | 1.0 |
| MarkA | 1.0 |
| Matt | 1.0 |
| Muhley | 1.0 |
| Rich’09 | 1.0 |
| Vinny’06 | 1.0 |
| bgunn | 0.5 |
| Brendan ’10 | 0.5 |
| Christopher Coggins | 0.5 |
| David | 0.5 |
| FishersTalent13 | 0.5 |
Update: Tuesday, February 15 (Game Time). A total of 58 VUHoops readers posted predictions, six picking the Pirates to win. As a group, the readers see ‘Nova winning by a score of 73-67 (a margin of 6.0 points and implied over/under of 140). The Vegas odds makers are picking ‘Nova to win by 3.5 points and set the over/under at 137.5 points, implying a final score of 71-67. KenPom.com’s model is predicting Nova to win by 4.0 points by a score of 69-65.
Scatter Plot of Predicted Scores
Window Opening: Monday, February 14 (6:00 AM). The window is now open for readers to post their predicted final scores for ‘Nova’s game at Seton Hall at the Prudential Center on Tuesday at 8 PM in our Closest to the Pin Contest. After twenty-five rounds, Barney Rubble and Hugh Jass are tied for the lead with 21.0 points. Click here to see our updated leader board. In our VUHoops vs. Vegas competition, VUHoops is up $800.
The #9 Cats (19-6, 7-5) have an RPI of 21, a SOS of 27, and are scoring an average of 74.7 PPG while giving up an average of 63.7 PPG. The Pirates (11-14, 5-8) have an RPI of 82, a SOS of 10, and are scoring an average of 67.4 PPG while giving up an average of 65.1 PPG.
Seton Hall’s five Big East wins have come against South Florida (+9), DePaul (+9), Syracuse (+22), Providence (+10), and Rutgers (+5). Their eight Big East losses have come to Cincinnati (-17), Louisville (-19), Syracuse (-5), Pittsburgh (-21), Georgetown (-5), Rutgers (-6), West Virginia (-12) and Connecticut (-2).  More statistical information about Seton Hall is available at Statsheet.com.
Be sure to read Brian’s game preview.
Special Note: When posting scores, please remember to list your predicted score for Villanova first, followed by the opponent’s score (e.g., ‘Nova 70 – Seton Hall 65).
