Creighton Bluejays vs. Butler Bulldogs Preview
Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse — Indianapolis, Indiana
When: Tuesday, January 31, 2017, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Creighton Bluejays (+6.5) vs. Butler Bulldogs (-6.5) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: FS1
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Betting on Creighton Bluejays (19-3, 6-3 Big East)
Point Spread: +6.5
No. 22 Creighton is finding trouble in filling the big, big void left by Maurice Watson Jr. (torn ACL). The team fell flat in its first two games without the nation’s assists leader, including a 20-point setback to Georgetown.
The Bluejays, though, responded nicely from their ugliest loss of the season with an 83-66 win over DePaul over the weekend. Unlike in Creighton’s previous two losses, the offense didn’t come from the usual suspects in Marcus Foster (18.2 PPG) and Justin Patton (14.0) alone.
Those two gathered 15 and 14 points, respectively, against the Blue Demons, but they got much-needed support from Khyri Thomas and Cole Huff. Both scored in double digits, while the former delivered a team-high 18 points to lead the Bluejays, who shot 55.8 percent from the floor.
Thomas, or whoever, has to continue stepping up to at least lessen the blow of Watson’s absence. The sophomore guard is Creighton’s fourth-leading scorer this season with 11.8 points per outing.
Betting on the Butler Bulldogs (18-4, 7-3 Big East)
Point Spread: -6.5
Sixteenth-ranked Butler was upset by Georgetown on Saturday night, 85-81, which prevented them from nabbing sole possession of the Big East’s top seat. That loss can be summed up in two words: no defense.
The Bulldogs have been a solid defensive team that yields below 70 points per game this season. Thus, seeing the Hoyas put up more than 80 points, including three players finishing with 20 or more points each against Butler, comes as a surprise to many.
You could say it was just one of those off-nights on defense for the Bulldogs, who actually almost bailed themselves out with their hot shooting (54.5 FG%). Their leading scorer this season—Kelan Martin—posted 22 points and four boards in a losing effort.
Butler has yet to lose two-straight contests this season, but that could happen soon if its defense doesn’t show up again.
Writer’s Prediction
Creighton (+6.5) pulls out the huge road win here, 79-75.
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