Marquette vs. Creighton Picks, Predictions, Odds

There is still a four-way race for the Big East title with two weeks left to play in the regular season. The Marquette Golden Eagles are leading the pack at 13-3, but there are three teams nipping on their heels at 12-4.

One of those teams is the Creighton Bluejays, and a win for Marquette over them on Tuesday night would likely lead to the Golden Eagles claiming at least a share of the regular season conference championship. Marquette's last three games are against DePaul, Butler, and St. John's, and those are three of the four worst teams in the Big East.

On Tuesday, February 21, 2023, the Marquette Golden Eagles will go on the road to face the Creighton Blue Jays. This game is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1 from the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

Marquette Golden Eagles vs. Creighton Bluejays Betting Prediction

Shaka Smart has made Marquette into one of the best programs in the Big East in just his second year on the job. The Golden Eagles are much improved on offense, ranking third nationally in offensive efficiency per Ken Pomeroy, and they rank in the top ten in steal percentage too.

Marquette defeated Creighton by 11 points in the first meeting between these two teams, but the Golden Eagles were at home and the Bluejays were without Ryan Kalkbrenner. The Bluejays are 8-0 at home in Big East play, and they will use that to their advantage on Tuesday night. However, the best bet is the Under as their last two home games were not high scoring at all.

Best Bet: Under 148
Score Prediction: Creighton 72, Marquette 66

Marquette Golden Eagles vs. Creighton Bluejays Betting Odds

Marquette Golden Eagles vs. Creighton Bluejays Betting Resources

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023
TV-Time: FS1, 8:30 p.m. ET
Venue: CHI Health Center
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Matchup
Expert Picks

Big East Tournament Odds

Marquette Golden Eagles vs. Creighton Bluejays Betting Stats

Marquette Golden Eagles
SU: 21-6
ATS: 17-9-1
O/U: 15-11-1
PPG: 80.7
OPPG: 70.6

Creighton Bluejays
SU: 18-9
ATS: 13-14
O/U: 11-15-1
PPG: 76.3
OPPG: 67.5

Straight Up (SU), Against the Spread (ATS), Over-Under (O/U)
Points Per Game (PPG), Opponents Points Per Game (OPPG)

Updated on 12/25/2024

Caesars Get up to $1,000 Back in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win!

Bonus Code INSIDER1000 Claim Now

Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER

Marquette Golden Eagles Betting Analysis

Marquette is the best team in the nation when it comes to making two-point field goals. The Golden Eagles are making 59.3% of their twos as a team, and that's despite not having a starter taller than 6'9. Kam Jones can continuously get to the hole and finish, and he is making an absurd 66.1% of his twos. Big man Oso Ighodaro is right behind him, making 65.4% of his field goals (all twos), and Olivier-Maxence Prosper is hitting just under 62% of his two-point field goals. Conversely, the Golden Eagles aren't great from the perimeter, and Tyler Kolek and David Joplin are their two best long distance shooters, sinking just over 38% of their treys.

The Golden Eagles do a great job of limiting turnovers on offense, but they don't rebound well and don't get to the free throw line often. Other teams have been able to take advantage of them on the glass, and that has kept them from being a truly elite team with the ball although they are very efficient. Ighodaro is averaging 6.0 RPG, and he is the only player on Marquette averaging more than 5.0 RPG.

Another thing that can hurt Marquette in close games is that Ighodaro is by far the best rebounder, but he can't shoot free throws. Ighodaro is making just 51.7% of his free throw attempts on the year. That makes it a dangerous gamble when it comes to having him on the court late in close games. Marquette's other four starters are making at least 72.5% of their free throws.

Creighton Bluejays Betting Analysis

Ryan Kalkbrenner is one of the most efficient scorers in the country. Kalkbrenner was sidelined in the first meeting between these two teams, and that took away a significant scoring threat from Creighton. The 7'1 junior is averaging a team-high 14.8 PPG, and he is making over 70% of his field goals. He is a significant presence on defense with 2.3 BPG and a block rate in the top 80 nationally too.

This Creighton offense can attack from a number of ways. Trey Alexander is the second leading scorer on the Bluejays, and he is averaging 13.4 PPG while making 41.5% of his threes. Baylor Scheierman is is a decent perimeter shooter that is making 36.9% of his threes, but he isn't afraid to crash the boards either and players taller than his size with 8.1 RPG. Ryan Nembhard is someone to watch too as he is making 85.5% of his free throws and can't be sent to the charity stripe. All five of Creighton's starters are averaging between 12.0 PPG and 15.0 PPG, and it's a steep dropoff from there as Francisco Farabello is the only other person averaging more than 10 MPG.

Creighton's defense is ranked 11th nationally by Pomeroy. The Bluejays do an excellent job limiting second chances thanks to the presence of Kalkbrenner and Scheierman, and they don't send opponents to the foul line often either. Teams are making just 45.3% of their two-point field goals against Creighton, and this unit will flummox Marquette down low.