Xavier Musketeers vs. Creighton Bluejays Predictions, Picks, Odds

5 minute read

The No. 21 Xavier Musketeers return to action this Saturday afternoon in a road matchup against the Creighton Bluejays. This Big East tilt on FS1 is slated to get underway at 2 p.m. (ET) from CHI Health Center in Omaha.

SCORE PREDICTION

Xavier 65, Creighton 62

BEST BETS

Under 137.5 (-110) at Westgate SuperBook

XAVIER MUSKETEERS VS. CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS PREDICTIONS

The Musketeers have dropped their last two games as favorites to fall to sixth in the Big East at 4-4 straight-up. This is part of an overall record of 14-5. After losing to Marquette by 11 points on the road laying two points, they came up short against Providence at home on Wednesday night by three-points as eight-point favorites. This definitely adds a sense of urgency to Saturday’s contest.

Creighton is coming off of Wednesday’s stunning 17-point loss to Butler as a slight 2.5-point road favorite. The Bluejays’ up and down start in conference play has led to a SU 4-3 record in the Big East. This includes a seven-point road loss to Xavier on Jan. 15 as nine-point underdogs.

Xavier remains the better overall team in this matchup and it should be able to pull-off the regular season sweep. However, Creighton is a much better team playing at home. The Bluejays opened up their Big East schedule by upsetting Villanova as 10.5-point underdogs at home in early January. The value bet in Saturday’s rematch against the Musketeers would be the UNDER on the total line.

XAVIER MUSKETEERS VS. CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS BETTING ODDS

Xavier -1.5 (-110)
Creighton +1.5 (-110)
Over 137.5 (-110)
Under 137.5 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

XAVIER MUSKETEERS VS. CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS BETTING RESOURCES

Matchup: Big East
Date: Saturday, January 29, 2022
Venue: CHI Health Center Omaha
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
TV-Time: FS1 - 2:00 p.m. ET

XAVIER MUSKETEERS BETTING ANALYSIS

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

SU: 14-5
ATS: 10-9
O/U: 7-11-1

The Musketeers are 2-3 SU over their last five games and they have failed to cover against the spread in all five contests. They have not crossed the 70-point mark in any of their last three outings causing the total to stay UNDER each time. It may take at least one more game to work their way out of this scoring funk.

Xavier has four players in its lineup averaging at least 10 points as part of a season scoring average of 73.8 points per game. Forward Jack Nunge has led the way with 12.5 points while pulling down 7.2 rebounds a game.

A trio of guards in Paul Scruggs (11.4 points), Colby Jones (11.2 points) and Nate Johnson (10.7) round out that list. Jones leads the team in rebounds with 8.2 a game and Scruggs is the leader in assists (4.2). Johnson is the Musketeers’ best outside shooter with a 40.2 completion percentage on a team-high 107 three-point attempts.

As a whole, this team is shooting 44.5% from the field and 33.1% from outside the three-point line. Xavier is averaging 38.7 rebounds a game with 10.6 on offense. It has held opposing teams to an average of 64.3 PPG.

CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS BETTING ANALYSIS

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

SU: 12-6
ATS: 9-9
O/U: 6-11-1

Creighton is 12-6 SU overall and an even 9-9 ATS. Yet, it has been able to cover in five of its last seven games. The total has stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in four of the Bluejays’ last six games. It snuck OVER the 126.5-point line on Wednesday in that shocking 72-55 loss to Butler. Creighton only managed to score 60 points in last Saturday’s 13-point win at home against DePaul.

The Bluejays have four players scoring in double figures this season, including a trio of Ryan’s. Forward Ryan Hawkins tops the list with 12.9 points along with guard Alex O’Connell. He is also the team leader in rebounds with 7.5 a game. O’Connell is shooting 49.2% from the field and 37.9% from three-point range.

Center Ryan Kalkbrenner is next in both points (12.1) and rebounds (7.1). He is averaging 3.2 blocks a game. Guard Ryan Nembhard is adding 11.2 points and 4.3 assists a game. These four players account for 49.1 of the team’s 70.1 points a game.

Creighton is shooting 46.1% from the field and 30.6% from three-point range. Hawkins and O’Connell are the two biggest outside threats shooting the ball. The Bluejays matchup well under the boards with 38.9 rebounds a game are they are allowing an average of 65.8 PPG on defense.

**Xavier has failed to cover the spread in five straight games. (AP)**

INSIDE THE STATS - XAVIER MUSKETEERS

Record: 14-5
VI Ranking: 27
PS/G: 73.8 (131st)
PA/G: 64.3 (65th)
ORtg: 105.8 (121st)
DRtg: 92.2 (46th)

INSIDE THE STATS - CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS

Record: 12-6
VI Ranking: 29
PS/G: 70.1 (215th)
PA/G: 65.8 (95th)
ORtg: 101.4 (199th)
DRtg: 95.3 (97th)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

XAV: Jack Nunge - F (12.5 ppg, 7.2 rog)
XAV: Paul Scruggs - G (11.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.2 apg)
CRE: Ryan Hawkins - F (12.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg)
CRE: Alex O'Connell - G (12.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg)

XAVIER MUSKETEERS VS. CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS BETTING CONCLUSION

With the win earlier this season, Xavier is now 6-4 both SU and ATS in its last 10 games against Creighton. The total went OVER 142 points in that 80-73 victory at home. However, that was the exception to the rule.

Going back over the previous nine games between these two teams, the total has stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH each time. Heading into this contest, I do not see the combined score climbing above the current total line either.

XAVIER MUSKETEERS VS. CREIGHTON BLUEJAYS BETTING TRENDS

Xavier has failed to cover the spread in five straight games.
Creighton has covered the spread in five of its last seven games when playing as the underdog.
Creighton has failed to go OVER the point total in 12 of its last 18 games.

College Basketball News

COLLEGE-BASKETBALL APR 9, 2024

March Madness Odds Final Four: Lines, Spreads, Betting Trends For Each Game

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson