Villanova Wildcats vs. Creighton Bluejays Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Dec. 17, 2021

Dave Schwab
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

In the Big East opener for both teams, the No. 9 Villanova Wildcats will go on the road this Friday night to face the Creighton Bluejays. Game time from CHI Health Center in Omaha is set for 8:00 p.m. ET with FS1 carrying the game nationally.

Score Prediction

Villanova 79, Creighton 64

Best Bets

Villanova -6 (-105) at WynnBet

Villanova Wildcats vs. Creighton Bluejays Predictions

Villanova only managed to score 36 total points in last Sunday’s 21-point loss to Baylor. It closed as a five-point road underdog in that game. This was the team’s third straight-up loss of the year against seven wins. I fully expect the Wildcats to take out the utter frustration of that loss against the rival Bluejays in this conference opener.

Creighton is off to an 8-3 SU start in non-conference play but it is coming off a tough one-point loss to Arizona State on Tuesday night as a 7.5-point home favorite. The Bluejays also lost to Iowa State on Dec. 4 as 5.5-point favorites at home.

Under different circumstances, I could see Creighton giving Villanova a tough battle right to the final buzzer of this game. That is not going to happen with Jay Wright as the Wildcats’ head coach. I am actually betting on him getting his team ready to play this game after failing to show up against Baylor.

Villanova Wildcats vs. Creighton Bluejays Betting Odds

Odds Provided by WynnBet - Subject to Change

• Villanova -6 (-105)
• Creighton +6 (-115)
• Over 130 (-110)
• Under 130 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

Villanova Wildcats vs. Creighton Bluejays Betting Resources

• Matchup: Big East
• Date: Friday, December 17, 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

Villanova Wildcats Betting Analysis

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

• SU: 7-3
• ATS: 5-5
• O/U: 4-6

The Wildcats had no answer for Baylor’s smothering defense in Sunday’s embarrassing 36- point effort. The Bears only had to score 57 points to walk away with the lopsided win. Baylor ascended to the No.1 spot in the current national rankings with that impressive showing while Villanova slipped three spots to No. 9.

Villanova is a much better team than the one we saw last Sunday and this should be painfully evident to Bluejays’ fans on Friday night. I fully expect the Wildcats to exceed their 74-point scoring average this time around behind guards’ Collin Gillespie and Justin Moore as the team’s top two scorers.

This duo has been able to score a combined 31.8 points a game on their own. Gillespie has been the more consistent shooter at 43.6% from the field and 43.4% from three-point range. He also leads the team in assists with 3.4 a game.

The Wildcats are five deep in players scoring at least nine points a game. They are shooting 42.6% from the field while hitting 37.7% of their shots outside the three-point line. Villanova is pulling down 37.4 rebounds a game and holding opposing teams to an average of 61.5 points.

Creighton Bluejays Betting Analysis

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

• SU: 8-3
• ATS: 4-7
• O/U: 3-8

Creighton finds itself in a tough position for its Big East opener coming off Tuesday’s loss. At 8- 3 SU, the Bluejays have been hard on the betting bankroll this season with a 4-7 record against the spread. The total has stayed UNDER in eight of those 11 games.

With four different players scoring at least 11 PPG, the Bluejays are going to need a stellar effort from each one to keep Friday night’s game close enough to win. Forward Ryan Hawkinstops that list with 13.7 points while center Ryan Kalkbrenner (12.7 points) and Ryan Nembhard(12.5 points) are close behind.

The three Ryan’s have combined for 16.8 of Creighton’s 38.3 rebounds a game. They are also averaging 6.6 of the team’s 14.2 assists. Guard Alex O’Connell is the fourth player in double figures with 11.3 PPG.

Overall, Creighton is averaging 71.9 points while shooting a solid 48.2% from the field. The team has not been nearly as efficient shooting the ball from three-point range (30.3%) and the free throw line (69.0%). This is another reason why keeping this game closer than the spread will be a very tall task.

Villanova has covered the spread in five of its last seven games when playing as the favorite. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Villanova Wildcats

• Record: 7-3
• VI Ranking: 13
• PS/G: 74 (132nd)
• PA/G: 61.5 (54th)
• ORtg: 113.3 (29th)
• DRtg: 94.2 (130th)

Inside the Stats - Creighton Bluejays

• Record: 8-3
• VI Ranking: 38
• PS/G: 71.9 (184th)
• PA/G: 65.4 (115th)
• ORtg: 104.6 (136th)
• DRtg: 95.1 (141st)

Key Players to Watch

• NOVA: Collin Gillespie - G (16.2 ppg)
• NOVA: Justin Moore - G (15.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg)
• CRE: Ryan Hawkins - F (13.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
• CRE: Ryan Kalkbrenner - C (12.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg)

Villanova Wildcats vs. Creighton Bluejays Betting Conclusion

Emotion is a huge part of college sports and this matchup should provide a perfect example of its impact on certain games. Villanova is a national championship caliber team and it was completely embarrassed its last time out.

The fact that Baylor is also in that elite category does not erase the fact that the Wildcats scored the fewest points ever in Wright’s 21 seasons as head coach. For that reason alone, I am expecting Villanova to rebound with a dominant victory on Friday night.

The history between these two teams still paints a close matchup. Villanova as the clear 12-5 SU edge in 17 previous meetings but it is 10-7 ATS in those games. The series has also been almost even on the total line (8-9) but it has stayed UNDER in four of the last five meetings.

Villanova Wildcats vs. Creighton Bluejays Betting Trends

• Villanova has covered the spread in five of its last seven games when playing as the favorite.
• Villanova has gone UNDER the point total in six of its last 10 games.
• Creighton has gone UNDER the point total in eight of its last 11 games.
• Creighton has failed to cover the spread in five of its last six home games.

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