Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Creighton Bluejays Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Dec. 14, 2021

Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Arizona State Sun Devils (4-6) travel to meet the Creighton Blue Jays (8-2) on Tuesday at the CHI Health Center in Omaha. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on FOX Sports 1.

Score Prediction

Creighton 75, Arizona State 64

Best Bets

Creighton -7.5 (-110) at DraftKings

Over 136.5 (-110) at DraftKings

Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Creighton Bluejays Predictions

The Sun Devils are starting to piece things together a little bit after an ugly start. Arizona State won the opener against Portland on Nov. 9, but then they were on an ugly 1-6 SU/1-5-1 ATS skid in the next seven outings. But to be fair, outside of a stunning loss to UC Riverside, Sparky didn't have any bad losses during the span. Arizona State lost at San Diego State by two points, pushed against top-ranked Baylor in a 12-point loss, and they lost to Syracuse and Loyola-Illinois on a neutral court. Well, OK, a loss at Washington State was a bad loss. It's not so much that they were beaten, but they were dropped 51-29 in an ugly, ugly performance from an offensive perspective for both sides.

AZ State picked up a 69-67 overtime win in Oregon on Dec. 5, before returning home to top Grand Canyon last Thursday as a 3.5-point favorite.

Creighton has won eight games with two setbacks, but losses to Colorado State and Iowa State is nothing to be ashamed about. After losing to I-State, the Bluejays posted a nice victory against BYU on a neutral floor, winning 83-71 as a 4.5-point underdog to pick up an OVER. In fact, the 83 points scored were the most since the Bluejays dropped 90 on Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the regular-season opener on Nov. 9.

Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Creighton Bluejays Betting Odds

• Arizona State +280
• Creighton -350
• Arizona State +7.5 (-110)
• Creighton -7.5 (-110)
• Over 136.5 (-110)
• Under 136.5 (-110)

Odds Provided by DraftKings - Subject to Change

More Odds | Futures Odds

Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Creighton Bluejays Betting Resources

• Matchup: Pac-12 vs. Big East
• Date: Tuesday, December 14, 2021
• Venue: CHI Health Center Omaha
• Location: Omaha, Nebraska
• TV-Time: FS1 - 8:00 p.m. ET

• Injury Report
• Wooden Award Odds
• Conference Futures Market
• Power Rankings

Arizona State Sun Devils Betting Analysis

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

• SU: 4-6
• ATS: 3-6-1
• O/U: 3-7

Arizona State opened the season on a 2-6 SU/1-6-1 ATS skid. The good news is that the Sun Devils have started to turn things around, going 2-0 SU/ATS, covering in consecutive games for the first time since Feb. 20-23, 2021 last season.

The Sun Devils have had a power outage on offense, going for 67, 69, 29 and 59 across the past four outings after dropping a season-high 84 points in an eight-point loss to Syracuse on a neutral floor. The good news is that the defense has picked up the pace, allowing just 60.0 PPG across the past three outings, which is nearly four buckets less than their seasonal average of 67.8 PPG.

As far as the total is concerned, the UNDER opened a perfect 5-0 in the first five games for Sparky. But the OVER is outpacing the UNDER 3-2 in the past five outings. The UNDER is 3-1 in Arizona State's four games in which they picked up a victory.

This will be Arizona State's third true road game, and they're 1-1 SU/2-0 ATS with the OVER-UNDER splitting in two outings.

Creighton Bluejays Betting Analysis

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

• SU: 8-2
• ATS: 4-6
• O/U: 4-6

The Bluejays are looking for back-to-back covers for just the second time this season. They cashed in consecutive games Nov. 16 at Nebraska and on a neutral floor Nov. 19 against Brown. This will be Creighton's sixth home game of the season. They're 4-1 SU/3-2 ATS across the past five home games, losing the most recent showing at CHI Health Center Omaha by a 64-58 score.

Creighton goes as the Ryans go - Ryan Hawkins and Ryan Nembhard. Against Iowa State, Hawkins showed up with 25 points and 8-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-5 from behind the 3-point line. Unfortunately, Nembhard was just 3-of-10 to finish with 10 points. The Ryans were the only two players in blue and white to finish in double digits for points, and Nembhard made it just barely.

Creighton picks up wins against teams that they should beat. They're 25-12 ATS in the past 37 against teams with a losing overall record. As far as the totals, the UNDER is 4-1 in the past five games overall, and 9-3 in the past 12 games at home.

The Bluejays have hit the UNDER in nine of their past 12 games at home. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Arizona State Sun Devils

• Record: 4-6
• VI Ranking: 131
• PS/G: 64.7 (306th)
• PA/G: 67.8 (176th)
• ORtg: 93.9 (306th)
• DRtg: 98.4 (211th)

Inside the Stats - Creighton Bluejays

• Record: 8-2
• VI Ranking: 38
• PS/G: 73.4 (153rd)
• PA/G: 66.1 (130th)
• ORtg: 106.7 (105th)
• DRtg: 96.1 (161st)

Key Players to Watch

• AZST: DJ Horne - G (13.2 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1.4 APG, 42.2 3P%)
• AZST: Kimani Lawrence - F (11.4 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 BPG)
• CRE: Ryan Hawkins - F (14.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 39.7 3P%)
• CRE: Ryan Nembhard - G (13.1 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG)

Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Creighton Bluejays Betting Conclusion

Arizona State has started to pick up the pace after an ugly start, and a brutal schedule definitely hasn't helped. However, the tough lessons and losses on the road and on neutral floors will build character, and give them great experience to lean upon heading into Pac-12 conference play. They face another difficult trip to Omaha against a good Bluejays team which beats the teams they're supposed to beat, and who struggles against teams they're not supposed to challenge.

The Sun Devils have beaten defending conference champs from the WAC and Pac-12 with victories over Grand Canyon and Oregon. A trip to Omaha is going to be a tall order, however, as the Blue Jays have four players averaging 10 or more points. To make matters worse for Arizona State, F Marcus Bagley is nursing a knee injury and he will be sidelined. He didn't even travel to Omaha. Bagley is averaging 10.0 PPG with 4.0 RPG and 1.3 APG in three games played this season, and he is the team's third-leading scorer, so that's a big miss. Arizona State would have a difficult time beating Creighton with all hands on deck, but playing one starter down isn't a good recipe for success.

Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Creighton Bluejays Betting Trends

• Arizona State is 4-12-1 ATS in the past 17 road games.
• Arizona State is 7-16-2 ATS in the past 25 games against winning teams.
• Creighton is 25-12 ATS in the past 37 games against losing teams.
• The OVER is 5-1 in Arizona State's past six road games.
• The UNDER is 4-1 in Creighton's past five games overall.
• The UNDER is 9-3 in the past 12 home games for Creighton.

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