Creighton Bluejays vs. Marquette Golden Eagles Betting Preview
Where: BMO Harris Bradley Center — Milwaukee, Wisconsin
When: Saturday, March 4, 2017, 2:30 PM ET
Line: Creighton Bluejays (+4.5) vs. Marquette Golden Eagles (-4.5) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: FS1
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Betting on Creighton Bluejays (23-7, 10-7 Big East)
Creighton only has a one-game edge over Seton Hall, Marquette and Providence for third place in the Big East, and that means a win in this regular-season finale with the Golden Eagles would clinch a first-round bye in the conference tournament.
The Bluejays are coming off a coast-to-coast win (82-68) over St. John’s on Tuesday night, where they were led by Khyri Thomas and Marcus Foster—who both have been picking up the slack since losing their floor general Maurice Watson Jr. to injury.
Thomas notched a double-double with 14 points and a career-high tying 12 boards, and has now scored in double figures in all but one of his last eight games. Meanwhile, Foster, who averages a team-leading 18.8 PPG this season, posted a game-best 18 points to extend his double-digit scoring streak to 13 contests.
However, Creighton should remember that this same team lit them up last January in what was a 102-94 road win for the Golden Eagles. The Bluejays, who give up 72.3 points per game, need to stay on their toes on defense right from the start.
Greg McDermott and his men are 7-3 SU and ATS in their previous 10 road games.
Betting on the Marquette Golden Eagles (18-11, 9-8 Big East)
Something good is brewing at the right time for Marquette, which booked its third win in four games after Wednesday night’s impressive 95-84 win at Xavier.
Behind a 20 and 19-point effort from Andrew Rowsey and Jajuan Johnson, who came off the bench, the Golden Eagles strengthened their chances of achieving not just a first-round bye in the Big East Tournament, but a ticket to the Big Dance as well.
Another win in this regular-season finale against a formerly-ranked Creighton team would be huge. Marquette, as noted earlier, already dispatched the Bluejays at their own turf earlier this season, and with that considered, it should be relatively easier to get the W as the hosts.
Still, being overconfident is the last thing the Golden Eagles would want. All they need to do is continue relying on their balanced attack and play smart defense. They’re averaging 86.0 points a game in their last four games, while forcing each opponent to 11 turnovers or more during that same stretch.
Marquette is 8-2 SU and 6-4 ATS in its last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Marquette (-4.5) wins it, 84-78.
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