UCSB vs. Creighton Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Mar. 20, 2021

David Schwab
NCAA BK Expert
VegasInsider.com

UCSB vs. Creighton Predictions

Creighton has been opened as a 7.5-point favorite for Saturday’s slated 3:30 p.m. start on TruTV. The total line for this Big West vs. Big East clash has been opened at 138 points.

UC Santa Barbara rolled right through the Big West Tournament as part of a straight-up 18-1 run through its last 19 games. Its No. 12 seed is related to this team’s conference, not its ability to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

Creighton’s no-show in the Big East Tournament’s title game is a major concern for Saturday. The Bluejays lost to Georgetown 73-48 as 8.5-point favorites. That is why I'm taking the Gauchos and the points in this matchup.

I'm also taking the OVER on the 138-point total line with each of these teams averaging more than 74 points per game.

• Score Prediction: Creighton 75 UCSB 73
• Best Bets - Side: UCSB +7.5
• Best Bets - Total: OVER 138

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UCSB vs. Creighton Betting Odds

Line Movements

• Spread: Creighton -7.5
• Total: 138.5
• Money-Line: Creighton -275 UCSB +235

Odds to Win NCAA Tournament

• UCSB 250/1
• Creighton 25/1

Odds to Win West Regional

• UCSB 80/1
• Creighton 8/1

Odds Subject to Change

First Round Predictions

Saturday's Early Action - Mar. 20 5 vs. 12 4 vs. 13 3 vs. 14 8 vs. 9 1 vs. 16 5 vs. 12 2 vs. 15 6 vs. 10

Handicapping UCSB vs. Creighton

You still have to take into consideration the strength of schedule for each of these teams. The Gauchos have more than enough talent to win this game but Creighton has been battle tested by the likes of Villanova and Connecticut.

I also think the Bluejays checked-out early in that lopsided loss in the Big East title game. That will not be the case on Saturday. None the less, this game is going down to the final few possessions before it is decided. Everyone loves picking 12 vs. 5 upsets and this matchup may offer the best potential of all four.

• Region: West
• Matchup: 5 vs. 12
• Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium
• Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
• Date: Mar. 20, 2021
• TV-Time: TruTV - 3:30 p.m. (ET)

Handicapping Resources: March Madness Central | NCAA Consensus Picks

Betting Stats & Analysis - UCSB Gauchos

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

UC Santa Barbara has failed to cover in four of its last six games. Yet, it went 9-2 ATS in its previous 11 games before the current betting slide. It is also 2-1 ATS in three pervious neutral-site games this season.

The total has stayed UNDER in four of the Gauchos’ last six contests. It has also stayed UNDER in four of their last seven games on the road.

Seed: 12
Conference: Big West
Bid: Auto

• SU: 21-4
• ATS: 14-10
• O/U: 11-13

• Current Form (Last 5): 5-0 SU, 2-3 ATS, 2-3 O/U
• Notable Wins: None

• PS/G: 76.5 (60th)
• PA/G: 62.8 (20th)
• Off Rtg: 112.5 (17th)
• Def Rtg: 92.4 (21st)

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Betting Stats & Analysis - Creighton Bluejays

Creighton is 6-3 ATS in its last nine games and 5-2 ATS in its last seven games played in March. It covered the spread in two of three games this season at a neutral site.

The total stayed UNDER in two of the Bluejays’ three Big East Tournament games. It also stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in five of their last seven games in the regular season.

Seed: 5
Conference: Big East
Bid: At-large

• SU: 20-8
• ATS: 13-15
• O/U: 13-14-1

• Current Form (Last 5): 3-2 SU, 3-2 ATS, 2-3 O/U
• Notable Wins: UConn (x3), Xavier, Georgetown, Villanova

• PS/G: 77 (53rd)
• PA/G: 68.3 (113th)
• Off Rtg: 109.8 (39th)
• Def Rtg: 97.4 (102nd)

First Round Predictions

Saturday's Late Action - Mar. 20 2 vs. 15 7 vs. 10 4 vs. 13 8 vs. 9 1 vs. 16 6 vs. 11 3 vs. 14 7 vs. 10

Key Players to Watch

Guard JaQuori McLaughlin is the team leader in both points (16.2) and assists (5.2). He is shooting 48.9% from the field and 40.4 % from three-point range. Forward Amadou Sow is second on the list in scoring with 13.7 PPG. He also leads the team in rebounds with 7.6 a game.

Guard Marcus Zegarowski tops a list of five players scoring at least 10 PPG with a 15.5-point scoring average. He also leads in assists (4.3) while shooting 46.1% from the field and 41.2% from outside the three-point line. Forward Christian Bishop (10.8 points) is pulling down a team-high 5.9 rebounds.

• UCSB - Jaquori McLaughlin (16.2 PPG, 5.2 APG)
• UCSB - Amadou Sow (13.7 PPG, 7.6 RPG)

• CRE - Marcus Zegarowski (15.5 PPG, 4.3 APG)
• CRE - Damien Jefferson (12.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG)

March Madness Records & Trends

UCSB Gauchos

• All-Time Record: 1-5
• Last Appearance: 2011
• Deepest Run: Second Round (2011)

--UCSB has lost five of its last six NCAA Tournament games.
-- UCSB has been eliminated by a school seeded No. 3 or lower in four straight NCAA Tournament games.
-- UCSB has failed to cover the spread in four of its last six games.
-- UCSB has gone UNDER the point total in four of its last six games.

Creighton Bluejays

• All-Time Record: 12-22
• Last Appearance: 2018
• Deepest Run: Sweet 16 (2014)

-- Creighton has lost three straight NCAA Tournament games, all by a double-digit point total.
-- Creighton has failed to win two or more games in a NCAA Tournament in 17 straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
-- Creighton has lost its first game in 11 of its last 17 NCAA Tournament appearances.
-- Creighton has covered the spread in three of its last four games.

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