Posted at 3:45 PM EST odds are subject to change.

Pinnacle -103  BET365 +100 SportsInteraction -105 888Sport -105

Iowa +100 over Seton Hall

Prudential Center - Newark, NJ

Streaming: FS1

7:30 PM EST. Seton Hall is 2-0 after blowout wins over Monmouth and Saint Peter’s, which are two very recognizable mid-majors. The Hall beat Monmouth by 27 and then they beat last year’s Cinderella team, the Peacocks (made it to the Elite Eight) by 36 points. Iowa is also 2-0 but they beat two unrecognizable programs in Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina A&T. Advantage Seton Hall, based on market perception derived from each team's first two games and results. Well, we’re here to tell you that Seton Hall cannot be favored over Iowa. It’s absurd.

Incidentally, Monmouth is pure garbage. After losing to the Hall by 27, Monmouth would lose by 47 and 38 points respectively to Virginia and Illinois. The other team that the Pirates blew out, Saint Peter’s, well, they lost just about every player that played on that Cinderella team. Seton Hall’s 2-0 record both straight up and against the spread is sweet as candy because the market is heavily influenced by results. Seton Hall is highly flawed. The defense is still decent because their coach preaches toughness and demands intensity, and the roster has a wealth of upperclassmen with size, length, athleticism and switchability. However, its offense is a massive work in progress. You want to see some low percentage shots taken that’ll have you shaking your head? Watch Seton Hall. We repeat, this very average team, that might finish 9th or worse in the Big East cannot be favored over Iowa.

Fran McCaffery has been fortunate the last three years to have a cornerstone piece. Luka Garza was a National Player of the Year runner-up as a junior, then won the award his senior year. Skilled forward Keegan Murray made a huge jump that earned him All-American honors last year before being picked fourth overall in June’s NBA Draft. Iowa will be without Murray, veteran guard Jordan Bohannon and regular starter Joe Toussaint, who transferred to West Virginia. However, there’s a chance this team could be better than last year’s 26-10 squad that finished in a tie for fourth in the Big Ten. A pair of full-time starters return, in addition to a part-time starter and Murray’s twin brother, who came off the bench last season. Throw in a couple of impact freshmen, and McCaffery is excited about a team that should have improved balance and depth. Despite the loss of a high-lottery pick and one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in college basketball history, there’s no reason to panic. Not with the next five top scorers back in the fold. Iowa has talent, experience and depth — and now, the program has a culture and an expectation of getting into the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes have a couple of experienced and multi-dimensional forwards in Kris Murray and Patrick McCaffery, three guards who can battle for minutes at the point in Ulis, Bowen and Perkins, and enough physical big men. We’ll say it once more just to drive it home. Seton Hall cannot be favored over Iowa. Period. End of story.