Princeton vs Creighton March Madness Odds

Princeton vs Creighton is yet another game where it looks as though the Tigers have no chance to get the victory. But as they’ve shown the first two games of the tournament, Princeton can play. Still, Creighton appears to have solid advantages in both offense and defense.

Creighton is favored by 10 points and the total is 140. The Bluejays are -525 on the moneyline and the Price on the Tigers is +405. The game will be played at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky. TBS will broadcast this 9 p.m. ET tip-off.

Princeton: Tigers Completely Dominate Missouri

After Princeton pulled off the shocking 59-55 upset of Arizona, most expected the team to be knocked out by Missouri. Not only did Princeton pull off a second straight upset, the Tigers rolled past Missouri, building a 69-48 advantage with four minutes to go before settling for a 78-63 victory. Princeton held a 44-32 rebounding advantage and grabbed 16 offensive rebounds. It wasn’t a fluke the Ivy League school picked up the victory.

The Tigers have now won six straight games and have easily covered the spread in their two tournament games. The Tigers are now 17-12 against the college basketball spreads this season, but 6-1 as an underdog. Princeton had two players, Ryan Langborg and Blake Peters, account for half their points against Missouri. They’ll need to be more balance against Creighton but they do have players who can step up.

Creighton: Bluejays Easily Dispose of Baylor

What was expected to be a tough game against Baylor turned out not to be the case. Creighton took over the game midway through the first half and built a 39-29 halftime lead and the Bears never got closer than five points in the second half. The Bluejays built a 77-59 lead with under six minutes to play and won 85-76. Creighton wasn’t great shooting 2-pointers, hitting just 48.4%. But the Bluejays were 45.8% from 3-point range.

Defensively, Creighton allowed Baylor to score from the inside, with the Bears hitting 58.5% of their 2-pointers. But the Bluejays kept Baylor from making 3-pointers, with the Bears just 5 for 22. The Bluejays did make 14 turnovers but held a 34-29 advantage in rebounds to compensate for that.

Handicapping the Game

Princeton vs Creighton is a tough match-up for the Tigers, who score half their points from 2-point range. The Tigers are No. 49 in the country in 2-point field goal percentage, but that’s where Creighton’s defense shines. The Bluejays are No. 28 in defensive field goal percentage against 2-pointers. Creighton isn’t as strong defensively against the 3-pointer, ranking No. 143, but Princeton is No. 201 offensively.

The Bluejays are one of the worst teams at forcing turnovers, ranking No. 356, and the Tigers don’t make many. That should give Princeton a few extra shots in the game, but they have to make baskets for that to matter. Creighton is solid in the other defensive areas.

Princeton’s defense is another one that doesn’t force many turnovers, with the Tigers ranking No. 348. The Tigers don’t allow a high percentage of shots to fall for opponents, but Creighton can shoot. The Bluejays are No. 27 in 2-point shooting percentage and No. 85 in 3-point shooting.

The Tigers are going to have to hold their own on the boards, which they’ve done against Arizona and Missouri. If Princeton is going to keep it close, the Tigers can’t allow Creighton to get many second chances. The Bluejays rank No. 275 in getting offensive rebounds, so it’s not one of their strengths.

The winner of this game will likely draw Alabama, who is favored to win March Madness, so things won’t get any easier. But to beat the Tide you have to be able to play the Tide. That means winning this game.

The Princeton vs Creighton total is pretty much where you would expect it be. Both teams have shown they can win high-scoring or low-scoring games in the tournament. It’s hard to overlook Princeton’s 6-1 ATS record as underdogs. But the Tigers certainly have the attention of the Bluejays and they will be ready. It’s easy to root for the underdog in this one, but when it comes to betting it looks as though Creighton is the right side.
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