Villanova at Creighton College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/24/2018

Saturday, February 24, 2018

CenturyLink Center Omaha

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Villanova Wildcats head to CenturyLink Center Omaha to take on the Creighton Bluejays on Saturday, February 24, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Villanova as 7 point favorites.

Villanova heads into this matchup with a mark of 25-3. They currently have a point differential of 17.1 as they are averaging 87.6 points per contest while giving up 70.6 per game. Creighton has an overall record of 19-9. They are averaging 84.9 points per game and surrendering 74.2, good for a point differential of 10.7.

Valuable Villanova Wildcats Betting Trends

The Villanova Wildcats are 18-9 against the spread this season

The Villanova Wildcats are 19-9 against the over/under this year

Important Creighton Bluejays Betting Trends

The Creighton Bluejays are 12-14 against the spread this season

The Creighton Bluejays are 14-12 against the over/under this year

Key Villanova Wildcats Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Creighton Bluejays Injuries

12/01/17 C Jacob Epperson Knee is out for season
01/18/18 F Martin Krampelj ACL is out for season

Player Spotlight

Jalen Brunson averages 19.2 points per contest while playing 31.7 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 50% while his free throw percentage is 80%. Mikal Bridges averages 17.1 points per contest in 32.3 minutes per game this year. He averages 2.1 assists per game and 5.3 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 51% for the season while his free throw percentage is 83%.

Player Spotlight

Marcus Foster scores 19.8 points per contest while playing 30.6 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 3.6 rebounds per contest and has 2.7 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is at 78%. Khyri Thomas averages 14.9 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 30.5 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.9 rebounds per game and has 2.7 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage is 82%.

Useful Team Statistics

Villanova averages 87.6 points per contest this year, which is 1st in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 17.1 and their shooting percentage is 51% as a unit, which has them ranked 4th. From 3-point territory they shoot 41%, which is good for 16th in Division 1. They average 34.9 boards per contest and 16.7 assists per game, which ranks them 202nd and 26th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 340th with 10.4 per game. The Wildcats allow 70.6 points per contest, which is 130th in the country. They also surrender a 44% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 153rd and 83rd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 32.6 rebounds a game which ranks 70th, and they allow 13.9 assists per game which puts them in 224th place in college basketball. They force 13.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 199th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Creighton is 10th in the country with 84.9 points per contest this season. They are 10th in the nation in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 10.7. They shoot 38% from beyond the arc, which is good for 61st in Division 1. They are 123rd in the country in rebounding with 36.2 boards per contest and 5th in assists per game with 18.1. The Bluejays are 314th in turnovers per contest with 11.4. The Bluejays give up 74.2 points per game, which ranks them 228th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 156th and 66th in those defensive statistics. They rank 237th with 14.1 dimes allowed per game and 164th with 34.5 boards surrendered per contest. The Bluejays are 56th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 11.7 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Wildcats are 1st in the nation in offensive rating with 123.6, and their defensive rating of 99.5 is ranked 93rd. In terms of pace they are 112th in the country with 70.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 61% is 1st. As a team they are 2nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 63% and they shoot 3-pointers on 46% of their shots, ranking 25th in Division 1. Villanova is 344th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 117th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Creighton is 312th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 131st in the nation. The Bluejays are 19th in the country in offensive rating with 115.3, and their defensive rating of 100.8 is ranked 127th. In terms of pace they are 29th in Division 1 with 73.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 59% is 7th. As a team they are 7th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 61% and they shoot 3-pointers on 45% of their shots, ranking 35th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Villanova/Creighton college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Villanova -7

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