The No. 23 UConn Huskies and the No. 11 Creighton Bluejays will go at it for the second time this season. The Huskies defeated Creighton in the first meeting, but will not have their best player on the floor this Saturday. Will UConn find a way to beat the Bluejays again? Or will Creighton avenge their loss this time around?
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Betting Preview for the Uconn Huskies vs Creighton Bluejays NCAA College Basketball Game on January 23 2021
Where: CHI Health Center Omaha
When: Saturday, January 23, 2021, 2:30 PM ET
Line: Uconn Huskies (odds) vs. Creighton Bluejays (odds) – view all 2021 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
Betting on the Uconn Huskies (odds)
Record: 7-2 Overall / 4-2 Conference
The Huskies are coming off an upset 74-70 home loss to the St. John’s Red Storm on Jan. 18. UConn made only 40 percent of its shots from the field against the Red Storm, though it’s hardly a surprise, as the Huskies have been struggling with their shooting all season long. The Huskies are 200th in the nation with a 43.0 field goal shooting percentage and it has only shot better than 45 percent only twice so far this season. Instead, UConn relies on its defense and rebounding, particularly on the offensive glass. UConn limits the possessions of its opponents by dominating the offensive boards, and that could be a problem again for Creighton, which likes to play at a faster tempo. Although Creighton beat UConn on the road last December, the Huskies limited the Bluejays to only 0.99 points per possession, which is way worse than their season average of 1.16 points per possession.
UConn is 4-1 against the spread in its last five road games.
Betting on the Creighton Bluejays (odds)
Record: 10-4 Overall / 6-4 Conference
Creighton suffered back-to-back losses in its most recent couple of games. After losing to the Butler Bulldogs on the road in overtime (70-66), the Bluejays got tripped up by the Providence Friars at home (74-70). The offense hasn’t been right for the Bluejays of late, as they have shot worse than 46 percent from the field in their last two games. Creighton is normally a great shooting team. The Bluejays are even 21st in the nation with a 49.0 field goal shooting percentage and eighth in field goals made per game with 30.1. But the Bluejays don’t have to shoot like college-mode Doug McDermott to beat UConn. They just need enough to keep up with the Huskies’ offense that is just 207th in the nation with only 1.044 points per possession average. The Huskies’ offense is also bound to have a tougher outing this time around against Creighton, as they are still missing James Bouknight, who dropped 40 points in the loss to the Bluejays last month. Bouknight remains sidelined after undergoing recent elbow surgery.
The under is 3-1 in Creighton’s last four games as the home team.
Writer’s Prediction
Creighton wins, 72-67.
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