Creighton vs. NC State Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – NCAA Tournament Round First Round

March 13, 2023, by Andy Molitor College Basketball Predictions

The No. 6 seed in the South Region bracket, the Creighton Bluejays (21-12), and the No. 11 seed NC State Wolfpack (23-10) play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday at Ball Arena, starting at 4:00 PM. Creighton is a 5-point favorite in the contest, which airs on TNT. The matchup has an over/under set at 148.5 points.

Creighton vs. NC State Odds

Creighton odds to win: -227
NC State odds to win: +186
Spread: Creighton (-5)
Total: 148.5

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Game Time and Information

Date: Friday, March 17, 2023
Time: 4:00 PM ET
TV: TNT
Where: Denver, Colorado
Venue: Ball Arena

Who Will Win Creighton vs. NC State?

Creighton and NC State Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

In games this season it was favored by 5 points or more, Creighton has a 10-9 record against the spread.

NC State has a 3-2 record against the spread this season when an underdog by 5 points or more.

These teams average a combined 154.8 points per game, 6.3 more points than the total of 148.5 set for this game.

Opponents of the two teams average a combined 9.2 fewer points per game (139.3) than this game’s over/under of 148.5 points.

The average point total in Creighton’s games this year is 3.4 fewer points than the over/under of 148.5 in this matchup.

The average over/under in Wolfpack games this season is 0.5 more points than the point total of 148.5 for this outing.

The Bluejays have a 16-17-0 record against the spread this season.

The Wolfpack have a 16-15-2 record against the spread this season.

Creighton Stats & Insights

Creighton’s +269 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 8.1 points per game) is a result of scoring 76.6 points per game (59th in college basketball) while allowing 68.5 per outing (128th in college basketball).

Creighton is 35th in the country at 34.8 rebounds per game. That’s 3.9 more than the 30.9 its opponents average.

The Bluejays connect on 8.9 three-pointers per game (40th in college basketball), 2.5 more than their opponents (6.4). They are shooting 36% from beyond the arc (82nd in college basketball) while allowing opponents to shoot 34.1%.

Creighton ranks 37th in college basketball by averaging 99.7 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively is 112th in college basketball, allowing 89.1 points per 100 possessions.

The Bluejays average 79.3 points per game at home, compared to 72.5 points per game away from home, a difference of 6.8 points per contest.

NC State Stats & Insights

NC State outscores opponents by 7.4 points per game (posting 78.2 points per game, 33rd in college basketball, and allowing 70.8 per outing, 201st in college basketball) and has a +244 scoring differential.

NC State ranks 53rd in college basketball at 34 rebounds per game. That’s 2.4 more than the 31.6 its opponents average.

NC State connects on 8.4 three-pointers per game (65th in college basketball), 2.3 more than its opponents.

NC State ranks 39th in college basketball averaging 99.6 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively is 136th, allowing 90.2 points per 100 possessions.

At home, the Wolfpack score 83.3 points per game. On the road, they average 71.7.

Creighton Key Players to Watch

The Bluejays scoring leader is Ryan Kalkbrenner, who averages 15.4 per contest to go with 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

Creighton’s leading rebounder is Baylor Scheierman averaging 8.4 boards per game and its best passer is Ryan Nembhard and his 4.9 assists per game.

Scheierman makes more threes per game than any other member of the Bluejays, knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a clip of 2.3 per contest.

Scheierman is Creighton’s leader in steals, averaging 1.1 steals per game, while Kalkbrenner leads them in blocks with 2.2 per contest.

NC State Key Players to Watch

The Wolfpack’s Terquavion Smith racks up enough points (17.5 per game) and assists (4.2 per game) to top the team’s leaderboards.

D.J. Burns grabs 4.8 rebounds per game (he also scores 12.8 points per game and adds 1.6 assists per game) which puts him at the top of the NC State rebounding leaderboard.

Smith averages 2.7 three-pointers per game, the most on the Wolfpack.

Smith (1.5 steals per game) is the steal leader for NC State while Ebenezer Dowuona (0.9 blocks per game) is the block leader.