Arizona State vs. Creighton Odds
| Arizona State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -110 | 136.5 -110o / -110u | N/A |
| Creighton Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -110 | 136.5 -110o / -110u | N/A |
Creighton will play its final non-conference game of the season on Tuesday night when it takes on the Arizona State Sun Devils. The last time these two teams squared off, the Bluejays left Tempe with a close 67-60 win.
Creighton leads the all-time series against the Sun Devils 6-5, but the visiting team has picked up the win on the road in the last three meetings.
Meanwhile, Arizona State is amidst one of the most demanding schedules I've ever seen in college basketball. Once they play Creighton, the Sun Devils will have played seven different 2021 NCAA Tournament teams in their last eight games, one of which was reigning champion Baylor.
Yet even with a gauntlet of a schedule, the Sun Devils are on a two-game win streak. They are looking to not only add another win, but make history in Omaha on Tuesday.
The Bluejays are one game away from keeping intact a 24-game home winning streak against unranked non-conference opponents. They are currently trying to avoid two consecutive non-conference home losses for the first time since December 2004.
Can the Bluejays keep the streak alive? Or will the Sun Devils be able to pull off the upset and make history on the road?
Arizona State Sun Devils
The Sun Devils are familiar with playing spoiler on the road, as they knocked off Oregon in Eugene just two weeks ago. In fact, Arizona State is 8-3 in out of conference road games under Bobby Hurley.
In their last game, the Sun Devils held off in-town rival Grand Canyon, 67-62. In a game that was close nearly the whole way, it was encouraging to see the Sun Devils win by doing something they've struggled with all year: hitting their free throws.
Arizona State is shooting 69.2% from the charity line on the season. But against the Antelopes, it made 26-of-28, a rate of 92.9%.
DJ Horne, who averages 13.2 points per game, has set the pace for the Sun Devils. And while Marcus Bagley has been out with an injury, Kimani Lawrence has stepped up in his absence. Lawrence leads the team in rebounds while trailing only Horne in points at 11.4 per contest.
The ASU defense has been solid, limiting opponents to just 67.8 points per game. However, the scoring continues to be one of the worst in the country. Ranking outside the top 275 in both 3 and two-point shooting, the Sun Devils have scored an average just 64.7 points per game.
Creighton Bluejays
The Bluejays are 8-2 on the season and looking to start 9-2 or better for the eighth time in the last 11 seasons.
This is a start that not many expected from a program that didn't return a single starter from last year's 22-9 team that was runner-up in the Big East and reached the program's first Sweet 16 since 1974.
Greg McDermott is 4-1 against ASU and 2-1 against Hurley in his career.
Creighton enters this game coming off its best win of the season, knocking off BYU, 83-71.
Against BYU, the Bluejays led by as many as 21, but the Cougars refused to give up.
The win was primarily due to the determination of Ryan Hawkins, who had a season-high 25 points. Along with Ryan Nembhard and Ryan Kalkbrenner, the trio combined for 56 of the team's 83 points.
Like ASU in its last game, free throws were the difference against BYU, as Creighton made 21-of-25 from the charity stripe.
The Bluejays have averaged 73.4 points per game while allowing the opposition to average just 66.1. But we've come to expect an efficient scoring team under McDermott.
The surprise this year has been the defense around the basket. In 11 seasons for the Bluejays, McDermott's teams have only posted seven or more blocks in a game just nine times. They've already achieved that stat in five games so far this year. Kalkbrenner leads the team with 2.7 blocks per game.
Arizona State vs. Creighton Betting Pick
Creighton has been dominant in home games against out of conference opponents. The Bluejays have been more productive on the offensive end and have been able to limit scoring on defense.
While the Sun Devils' record and some statistics may be misleading due to the strength of the schedule they've faced, I still think Creighton is the better team.
I expect Creighton to come into this game determined to prove itself after a loss to Iowa State in its last home game. I was able to get Creighton at the opener of 7.5, but I would take it as high as an 8-point favorite.
If the line moves past eight, I would recommend a first half bet up to -5.
