The fifth-seeded and 19th-ranked Creighton Bluejays will try to avoid being the latest victim of the No. 13-seeded Ohio Bobcats when the teams square off Monday in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament in Indianapolis. The Bobcats (16-7) have been on an amazing run that includes a Mid-American Conference tournament title and an epic 68-62 upset of defending national champion Virginia in Saturday’s first-round game. Ohio finished fifth in the MAC but scores more than 81 points per game. The Bluejays (21-8) lost to Georgetown in the Big East tournament final before edging 12th-seeded UC Santa Barbara 63-62 on Saturday.
Tip-off is set for 6:10 p.m. ET at Hinkle Fieldhouse The Bluejays are 5.5-point favorites in William Hill Sportsbook’s latest Ohio vs. Creighton odds, and the over-under for total points scored is 149. Before finalizing any Creighton vs. Ohio picks, check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past four-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of over $2,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. It has also returned almost $500 on all top-rated college basketball picks this season. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Creighton vs. Ohio in the NCAA Tournament 2021. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Ohio vs. Creighton:
- Ohio vs. Creighton spread: Bluejays -5.5
- Ohio vs. Creighton over-under: 149 points
- Ohio vs. Creighton money line: Bobcats +205, Bluejays -250
- OHIO: The Bobcats dish out 17.9 assists per game, good for sixth in Division I
- CREI: G Marcus Zegarowski has scored in double figures in 25 of 27 games
Why Creighton can cover
Creighton is 23-19 against the spread over the past two years after a victory, and the Bluejays get the job done on both ends of the court. They ranked first in the Big East in field-goal percentage (48 percent) and opponent field-goal percentage (41). Forward Christian Bishop ranked sixth in the nation in shooting from the field at 67.5, and he is one of the five starters averaging double figures. All-Big East performer Marcus Zegarowski leads the way at 15.6 and averages 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals.
Zegarowski also makes 41.5 percent of his shots from 3-point range, and he faces an Ohio team that ranks 163rd in the nation in opponent 3-point percentage (34 percent). The Bluejays hit 36.4 percent as a team (57th). The Bobcats are 239th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 72.6 points, while Creighton yields just over 69. Guards Denzel Mahoney and Mitch Ballock combine for more than 22 points, and forward Damien Jefferson (12 points, 5.4 rebounds) teams with Bishop to form a potent inside combination.
Why Ohio can cover
Ohio is 4-0 against the spread in its last four NCAA Tournament games, and point guard Jason Preston has been making a name for himself. The junior is averaging 16.3 points per game and ranks sixth in the nation at 7.3 assists. He scored just 11 on Saturday but had 13 rebounds and eight assists. His court awareness is impeccable, and he has been the critical piece for an offense that ranks 22nd in the nation in scoring at 80.1 points per game.
In Saturday’s victory, Ben Vander Plas handled the scoring for the Bobcats, who are 5-0 against the spread in their last five as an underdog. The forward scored 17, including 10 straight points during one stretch. He averages 13 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Preston, Vander Plas and forward Ben Roderick also are potent 3-point shooters, combining to hit 135-of-351 tries (38.5 percent). The Bobcats shoot 48.7 overall (18th in the nation), led by Dwight Wilson (65.6, third in NCAA).
How to make Ohio vs. Creighton picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 156 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50 percent of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Creighton vs. Ohio? And which side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the computer model that has crushed its college basketball picks.