Creighton vs. Villanova Big East Tournament Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 9, 2023

The No. 6 seed Villanova Wildcats (17-15, 10-10 Big East) are 4.5-point underdogs in their Big East Tournament matchup against the No. 3 seed Creighton Bluejays (20-11, 14-6 Big East) on Thursday at Madison Square Garden, beginning at 9:30 PM on Fox Sports 1. The winner moves one step closer to the conference championship and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament bracket. The point total is 134.5 for the matchup.

Creighton vs. Villanova Odds

• Creighton odds to win: -199
• Villanova odds to win: +167
• Spread: Creighton (-4.5)
• Total: 134.5

Creighton vs. Villanova Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• Date: Thursday, March 9, 2023
• Time: 9:30 PM ET
• TV: Fox Sports 1
• Where: New York City, New York
• Venue: Madison Square Garden

Who Will Win Creighton vs. Villanova?

Creighton and Villanova Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

Creighton is 10-9 against the spread when favored by 4.5 points or more this season.

In games this year in which it was an underdog by 4.5 points or more, Villanova has a 5-1 record against the spread.

These two teams average a combined 146.6 points per game, 12.1 more points than the total of 134.5 set for this matchup.

Creighton and Villanova have seen its opponents average a combined 0.7 more points per game than the point total of 134.5 set for this game.

Creighton’s average total in matchups this season has been 144.7, 10.2 points higher than the over/under in this particular game.

The average total for Wildcats games this year is 2.6 more points than the point total of 134.5 for this outing.

The Bluejays are 15-16-0 ATS this season.

So far this season, the Wildcats have put together a 14-18-0 record against the spread.

Creighton Stats & Insights

Creighton’s +278 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 8.9 points per game) is a result of scoring 76.8 points per game (58th in college basketball) while allowing 67.9 per outing (117th in college basketball).

Creighton wins the rebound battle by 4.3 boards on average. It collects 35 rebounds per game, which ranks 32nd in college basketball, while its opponents pull down 30.7 per contest.

The Bluejays make 8.9 three-pointers per game (39th in college basketball) while shooting 35.8% from deep (94th in college basketball). They are making 2.7 more threes per contest than their opponents, who drain 6.2 per game while shooting 33.5%.

Creighton ranks 39th in college basketball with 99.8 points scored per 100 possessions, and 87th in college basketball defensively with 88.2 points conceded per 100 possessions.

Offensively, the Bluejays have played better in home games this year, putting up 79.3 points per game, compared to 72.5 per game away from home.

Villanova Stats & Insights

Villanova outscores opponents by 2.5 points per game (posting 69.8 points per game, 220th in college basketball, and giving up 67.3 per contest, 97th in college basketball) and has a +83 scoring differential.

The 29.1 rebounds per game Villanova accumulates rank 310th in the nation. Their opponents collect 29.2.

Villanova knocks down 8.7 three-pointers per game (52nd in college basketball), 1.1 more than its opponents.

Villanova averages 98.3 points per 100 possessions on offense (68th in college basketball), and allows 94.7 points per 100 possessions (272nd in college basketball).

In 2022-23 the Wildcats are averaging 3.1 more points per game at home (70.4) than away (67.3).

Creighton Key Players to Watch

The Bluejays scoring leader is Ryan Kalkbrenner, who averages 15.1 per contest to go with 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

Creighton’s leading rebounder is Baylor Scheierman averaging 8.3 boards per game and its best passer is Ryan Nembhard and his 4.9 assists per game.

The Bluejays get the most three-point shooting production out of Scheierman, who knocks down 2.4 threes per game.

Scheierman and Kalkbrenner lead Creighton on the defensive end, with Scheierman leading the team in steals averaging 1.2 per game and Kalkbrenner in blocks averaging 2.2 per contest.

Villanova Key Players to Watch

Eric Dixon has the top spot on the Wildcats leaderboards for scoring and rebounding with 15.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

Villanova’s assist leader is Caleb Daniels with 2.6 per game. He also averages 14.4 points per game and tacks on 4.5 rebounds per game.

Daniels is the most prolific from distance for the Wildcats, hitting 2.3 threes per game.

Villanova’s leader in steals is Cam Whitmore with 1.4 per game, and its leader in blocks is Dixon with 0.7 per game.

Creighton vs. Villanova Prediction

• Pick ATS:

  Creighton (-4.5)
  

• Pick OU:

  Over (134.5)
  

• Prediction:
  Creighton 73, Villanova 68

How to Bet on Creighton vs. Villanova

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