The Ohio Bobcats will battle the Creighton Bluejays for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen on Monday night. The Bobcats secured a huge victory on Saturday night as they knocked off the defending champion Virginia Cavaliers. They came out with more energy and looked like the better team throughout. With Creighton having its best season in recent history, the cinderella hopeful Ohio Bobcats will have their hands full in this round of 32 affair. It’s time to continue the NCAA odds series and make an Ohio-Creighton prediction and pick.

Here is how the sportsbooks set the odds for this game.

NCAA Odds: Ohio-Creighton Odds

Ohio Bobcats +5.5 (-110)

Creighton Bluejays -5.5 (-110)

Over 149 (-105)

Under 149 (-115)

Why Ohio Could Cover the Spread

Ohio’s first round upset win against the fourth-seeded Virginia Cavaliers was impressive, to say the least. They defeated the defending champs 62-58 in a brawl that saw the Bobcats leaving it all on the floor. Win or lose, you could see Ohio’s heart pouring out. They weren’t going to go out without the ultimate fight. This team plays with a ton of grit and passion, which is crucial to a team’s success in March. Led by star point guard Jason Preston (16.6 ppg), the Ohio Bobcats will look to carry their momentum into tonight’s game against the Bluejays of Creighton.

With the line opening at -6 in favor of Creighton, the line has moved a half-point in favor of the Bobcats. Ohio is a fan favorite and has received a lot of tickets. Don’t get it twisted, this team is full of talent, though. Preston went for a near triple-double and is a superstar for sure, but wasn’t the only superstar in Saturday’s upset victory. Ben Vander Plas turned in a great performance, scoring a game-high seventeen points on 7-15 shooting from the field and 3-9 shooting from three. Ohio averages 17.9 assists per game and shares the wealth very well. Holding Virginia to 8-31 from three-point land and 35% from the field, replicating this performance on the defensive end will be vital to their success against Creighton.

Why Creighton Could Cover the Spread

The Creighton Bluejays had a phenomenal season in ’21 and arguably possess the most talented roster of head coach Greg McDermott’s eleven-year tenure. At one point, the Bluejays were ranked as high as number seven in the nation. This was the highest ranking in Creighton’s history. They are a very efficient team that plays with a ton of chemistry on the offensive end. They come in with a balanced attack that is hard to match in a forty-minute affair. Creighton is a fifth-seeded team looking to prove that they’re even better than their seeding depicts.

They’ve been an offensive juggernaut at times. They average 76.5 points per game on 47.5% shooting, which is good for thirty-third in the country. The Bluejays offense is led by junior Marcus Zergarowski (15.6 ppg). Zegarowski had a great performance in Creighton’s round one victory against UCSB, going for seventeen points on 7-11 shooting and 3-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Christian Bishop also turned in a solid outing, dropping fifteen points and grabbing eleven boards. The defense ranks thirty-sixth in the land in opposing field goal percentage and held UCSB leading scorer McLaughlin to thirteen points in the win. The offense will show up on Monday night, but will the defense be able to slow down a red-hot Bobcats team?

Final Ohio-Creighton Prediction & Pick

This is a tale of two stories. The Creighton Bluejays have been shining all season long and the Ohio Bobcats are just starting to enter the spotlight. The Bobcats have been playing under the radar all year and have nothing to lose on Monday night. They possess the talent to compete with anyone in the field and seem to be clicking on all cylinders at the perfect time. Creighton is the better team on paper, but is forced to go up against a gritty and energetic team that will look to make their life a living hell. I see Ohio having the edge on the boards and on the defensive end. Jason Preston will come out more aggressive and will look to get Vander Plas going from deep again. He will hit big shots down the stretch in route to a Bobcats upset victory and Sweet Sixteen birth.

FINAL PICK: Ohio +5.5 (-110)