The Creighton Bluejays take on the Louisville Cardinals in the NCAA Tournament. Tip-off is set for 12:15 p.m. ET on CBS.
Louisville is favored by 3 points on the spread with a moneyline of -155. The total is set at 145.5 points.
Here are my Creighton vs. Louisville predictions and college basketball picks for March 20, 2025.
Creighton vs Louisville Prediction
My Pick: Louisville -2.5
My Creighton vs Louisville best bet is on the Cardinals spread, with the best odds currently available at BetRivers. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Creighton vs Louisville Odds, Spread, Pick
| Creighton Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -115 | 145.5 -110o / -110u | +130 |
| Louisville Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -105 | 145.5 -110o / -110u | -155 |
- Creighton vs Louisville spread: Louisville -3
- Creighton vs Louisville over/under: 145.5 points
- Creighton vs Louisville moneyline: Louisville -155, Creighton +130
- Creighton vs Louisville best bet: Louisville -2.5
Creighton vs Louisville NCAA Tournament Betting Preview
I'm going to fade the Big East team because I haven't loved what I've seen from that conference in general. Even some of the "big dogs" that were supposed to challenge Rick Pitino and St. John's just couldn't get it done over a 20-game sample size this year.
Also, I've been looking to faith Creighton whenever possible for a couple of weeks now, and Louisville playing in Rupp Arena is a spot I'll absolutely take a stab at here.
This is going to be essentially a home game for Louisville, and -2.5 isn't nearly enough to spook me from playing the number.
The matchup also favors Louisville too, especially at the guard spot.
Creighton is entirely dependent on Steven Ashworth. He's very good against opposing guards who can't provide any resistance or pressure.
But if he goes up against Chucky Hepburn, who's one of the elite perimeter defenders in the country, life is going to be really difficult for Ashworth.
On the flip side, I think you're going to see Ryan Kalkbrenner have to do some things that make him uncomfortable defensively. He normally likes to sit in drop coverage and become the last line of defense for the Bluejays.
However, Louisville is a team that will make him guard on the perimeter. And if you let the Louisville guards and wings get downhill with Kalkbrenner sitting around the rim, I think there's going to be a lot of space for guys like Terrence Edwards Jr. to operate and for J'Vonne Hadley to make some plays.
Louisville just has better players, more positional size, more skill and more talent everywhere outside of point guard and center.
And the matchups for Creighton's point guard and center are a little frustrating, which will force them into tough spots they don't like.
Finally, Louisville will get Reyne Smith back, as well. He was already close to playing this past weekend in the ACC Tournament, and he's important for shooting and spacing. The Cardinals' offense has a much higher ceiling when he's in the lineup.
So for those reasons, I'll take Louisville.
