Creighton, Baylor Didn’t Have To Sweat Much in Openers
If you saw the college basketball news, you saw how many upsets there were in the opening round. The No. 3 Baylor Bears and No. 6 Creighton Bluejays didn’t have such issues.
They both ended up winning their first NCAA Tournament game quite comfortably. Now the question is which of these two will survive what is expected to be a much tighter contest on Sunday?
Creighton Ranks Higher than Baylor by Some Metrics
One thing that might surprise those who bet online is that while Creighton is the No. 6 seed and Baylor is No. 3, the Bluejays actually rank one spot higher than Baylor in the KenPom.com metrics. That’s a telling sign that this could be a tight game.
One thing that should push some action on Creighton in terms of the college basketball odds is that Baylor isn’t great defensively. They’re 98th in the country, according to KenPom.com’s Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. They’ve had a really tough time protecting the rim.
Meanwhile, Creighton is virtually the opposite. They’re great at tightening the screws and will do so here. They’re 14th in the nation in that same stat category.
Creighton forces opponents into a number of mid-range jumpers and that will be the key here. If Baylor can hit threes, they’re in good shape. If Creighton chases them off the line to the inside more, that will be an advantage to the Bluejays.
Baylor Looks To Make This Offensive Showdown
This will be one of those contests where the team that dictates the pace wins. Creighton wants this to be a grind; Baylor wants this to be more of a track meet.
The question for Creighton will be can they keep up if this becomes a fast-paced game? Yes, they have balance and some offense, but we saw them shoot three-of-20 from three in the opening round. That won’t work against Baylor.
The Bears have scored 72 points or more in four of their last five games. If you’re looking at the NCAA basketball odds in the sportsbook, you’re probably taking Baylor if you think they get to that number again.
Creighton vs Baylor Game Injuries
Creighton vs Baylor Head-to-Head
These teams haven’t met in the last three seasons. Since 1997, they’ve met four times and Baylor has won every time.
Creighton vs Baylor Information
- Game: Creighton (22-12) vs Baylor (23-9)
- Location: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
- Day/Time: Sunday, 7:10 p.m. ET
- Creighton vs Baylor Live Stream: TBS.com
Creighton vs Baylor Betting Lines
Creighton vs Baylor Picks & Prediction
In terms of sports betting, the formula seems pretty simple here in some respects. If Creighton wins, the game is likely going under. If Baylor wins, we’re probably looking at an over. In other words, the total is probably a good parlay option based on what side you like.
In terms of the side, it really feels like a coin toss. That being the case, take the dog here with your sports bets. This will likely end up being one of the better games of the Round of 32.
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