Barry Recks
The Creighton Bluejays and the NC State Wolfpack get each other as their respective dates in the first round of the 2023 NCAA tournament. Will Creighton advance? Or, will NC State stun the Bluejays?
Read on for more about this Creighton vs NC State matchup in the 2022-23 college basketball season, including the latest odds, pick, and prediction to win this showdown, as brought to you by JefeBet. Also, don’t forget to check out the other NCAAB game previews here to help you make the best betting decisions.
Predictions and Betting Preview for the Creighton Bluejays vs NC State Wolfpack NCAA Basketball Championship Round 1 Game on March 17, 2023
- Where: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
- When: Friday, March 17, 2023, 4:00 PM ET
- March Madness Betting Odds: View NCAAB Odds
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Betting on the Creighton Bluejays
- Regular Season Record: 21-12
The Bluejays are going dancing for the third straight year, which is a good sign of the program’s health. Creighton won 14 games in Big East play and even though it lost in the semifinals of the conference’s tournament to the Xavier Musketeers, 82-60, there’s little doubt about the school’s status as one of the top programs in its league – and in the nation.
KenPom has Creighton ranked 13th overall, thanks to a great balance between the Bluejays’ offense and defense. The Bluejays are 28th nationally with 114.6 points per 100 possessions adjusted and 15th with only 94.0 points allowed per 100 possessions adjusted. Moreover, Creighton has won four in 12 games this season against teams that have made it to the NCAA tournament this year.
Betting on the NC State Wolfpack
- Regular Season Record: 23-10
NC State is back in the Big Dance for the first time in years. The last time they went to the NCAA tournament prior to 2023 was in 2018, so the Wolfpack are so eager to come up with a huge win this Friday. While that is going to be easier said than done for NC State, it definitely has the talent to come away with a victory at the expense of Creighton.
NC State, which is 4-2 against the spread in its last six games overall. Sophomore guard Terquavion Smith is a scoring machine, who is averaging 17.5 points per game and he is paired with another talented guard in Jarkel Joiner, who is pumping out 17.1 points per outing. As a team, NC State is putting up 78.2 points per contest, which is good for 25th-best in Division I basketball.
JefeBet Prediction
Expect a close battle between Creighton and NC State, but we expect the Bluejays to get the W when it is all said and done by making the necessary stops in the clutch to seal the deal.
Prediction: Creighton wins, 77-70.
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