The Creighton Bluejays will have their hands full on Sunday as they're set to take on the undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2021 March Madness. Gonzaga has pulled off 32 straight wins dating back to last season and will be looking to continue their dominance and secure a spot in the Elite Eight. Creighton fans have been anxiously praying all week. Their Bluejays had a dominant win against Ohio in the second round and will hope to carry momentum over. Gonzaga has gone 2-0 ATS in these teams last two meetings, but will this be the game that Creighton finally conquers? It’s time to continue the NCAA odds series and make a Creighton-Gonzaga prediction and pick.
Here is how the sportsbooks set the odds for this game.
NCAA Odds: Creighton-Gonzaga Odds
Creighton Bluejays +13.5 (-115)
Gonzaga Bulldogs -13.5 (-105)
Over 158 (-110)
Under 158 (-11o)
Why Creighton Could Cover the Spread
The Creighton Bluejays are set to make their first Sweet Sixteen appearance in 47 years. The Bluejays have been great all year and seem to be clicking on all cylinders. They're coming off of an impressive 14-point victory against the Ohio Bobcats. Five Bluejays went for double figures in the second round win. Creighton jumped out to a 15-point lead at the half and never looked back. Marcus Zegarowski (15.6 ppg) led the way for the Bluejays with 20 points.
The defense also came up big for Creighton in the win. Creighton held Ohio's star point guard Jason Preston to just four points. The Bluejays also held the Bobcats in check on the floor as Ohio shot just 31.5% from the field. This was a promising sign for a team that has been praised mostly for its offensive firepower all season. Creighton needed the big win after struggling in its last two games against Georgetown and UCSB. The Bluejays enter this game as an underdog for just the fourth time in 2021.
Why Gonzaga Could Cover the Spread
The Gonzaga Bulldogs have been the best team all year and have dominated the tournament thus far. Their first two wins came by double digits, defeating Norfolk State by 43 and Oklahoma by 16. Good luck trying to keep up with the Bulldogs. Gonzaga is second in the nation in scoring, averaging 92.1 points per game in 2021. The Bulldogs have the best scoring margin in the land as opponents score just 68.7 points per game on average against the Bulldogs. You won't lose many, if any, with these margins.
Gonzaga possesses so much star power on its roster it's almost unfair. The Bulldogs have two Player of the Year candidates and potential lottery picks. Corey Kispert (19.2 ppg), Drew Timme (18.8 ppg), and Jalen Suggs (14.1 ppg) lead this team to success every night. They're so lethal because any one of their players can go for 30 with ease. Timme had 30 points and 13 rebounds in the second-round win against Oklahoma. In that game, the Zags shot 23 of 26 from the foul line, which was crucial down the stretch for bettors. Gonzaga is 2-0 ATS in the tournament, its last 25 wins have come by double digits, and they are 8-1 SU in its last nine games against Big East opponents.
Final Creighton-Gonzaga Prediction & Pick
We tend to look at 13.5 points and look away. You can't do that with Gonzaga, though. The Bulldogs have been destroying double-digit spreads all season long and have covered two straight 15+ point spreads in the tournament. They are easily the best team in college basketball and have full control of their own fate. Creighton is having a great season thus far. The problem is that the Bluejays are jumping up two weight classes to face the Bulldogs. Gonzaga will continue its dominance against the Big East en route to a commanding victory in the Sweet Sixteen. Look for free throws to be the difference in a cover for the Zags.
FINAL PICK: Gonzaga -13.5 (-105)
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