Creighton vs. Xavier Prediction
Two middle-of-the-road Big East teams are set to square off in an important Big East Tournament game today at 2:30PM ET as Xavier faces Creighton.
683 Creighton vs. 684 Providence
Thursday, March 14, 2019
2:30PM ET – Madison Square Garden
TV: FS1
Compare odds and from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our new College Basketball Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, Creighton is the slight favorite in this game, as the Bluejays are getting odds of -2.5 points against Xavier. The over/under total for the game is listed at 142.5 points The public betting currently has 59 percent going on Creighton. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our College Basketball Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Creighton rolling
Creighton is the 5 seed in this tournament and the Bluejays are rolling right now, as they have won and covered the spread in five straight. Creighton is 18-13 on the season, 9-9 in Big East games, 3-0 on a neutral floor, 16-14 against the spread and 17-13 with the under.
The Bluejays have been one of the stronger offensive teams in the nation this season, averaging 79.3 points per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field. They also shoot nearly 40 percent from the arc. Defensively, Creighton is giving up 74.2 points per game while opponents shoot 45.8 percent against them. Ty-Shon Alexander is leading the team with 16.1 points per game while Martin Krampelj is adding 13.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per contest.
Xavier also heating up
Xavier is the fourth seed in the Big East Tournament and the Musketeers have won and covered the spread in six of their last seven games. Xavier is now 17-14 on the season, 9-9 in Big East play, 1-2 on a neutral floor, 12-17-2 against the spread and 17-13-1 with the under.
The Musketeers are averaging 72.3 points per game this season while shooting 47 percent as a team. Defensively, Xavier is giving up 70.9 points per game while opponents shoot 43.5 percent against them. Naji Marshall is leading the team with 14.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, but he has been dealing with an ankle injury. Tyrique Jones is adding 11.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest.
College Basketball Betting Trends
Creighton
The Bluejays have covered the spread in five straight following a win and in five straight against winning teams.
Xavier
Xavier has covered the spread in six of its last seven against winning teams and four of its last five following a win.
Prediction:
These two split their two meetings, with Creighton earning a 22-point win at home while Xavier edged Creighton in OT at home. Still, I find Xavier to have the better depth with its offense. While the Bluejays can definitely shoot the lights out, I think they rely on a few players for most of their damage. Xavier can have a different leader each game and that has shown in their recent wins against the likes of Villanova and Seton Hall. I like the Musketeers to keep pace with the Bluejays and steal a win late.
College Basketball Prediction: Xavier +2.5