Rutgers vs. Creighton Prediction Odds, Key Player to Watch for College Basketball Crown Quarterfinals

Creighton is favored against Rutgers in the College Basketball Crown Quarterfinals. | Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

The final game of the opening round of the College Basketball Crown is a Big Ten vs. Big East showdown between Rutgers and Creighton.

Creighton played one Big Ten team early in the regular season, losing to the Nebraska Cornhuskers by a score of 71-50. Rutgers played Seton Hall from the Big East on December 13, also losing by a wide margin, a score of 81-59.

Let's dive into the odds and my best bet for Thursday night's matchup.

Rutgers vs. Creighton Odds, Spread, and Total

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

Spread

• Rutgers +3.5 (-105)
• Creighton -3.5 (-115)

Moneyline

• Rutgers +138
• Creighton -166

Total

• OVER 151.5 (-110)
• UNDER 151.5 (-110)

Rutgers vs. Creighton How to Watch

• Date: Thursday, April 2
• Game Time: 10:30 pm ET
• Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena
• How to Watch (TV): FS1
• Rutgers Record: 14-19
• Creighton Record: 15-17

Rutgers vs. Creighton Betting Trends

• Rutgers is 4-1 ATS in its last five games
• The OVER is 9-4 in Rutgers' last 13 games
• The UNDER is 10-4 in Rutgers' last 14 games vs. Big East opponents
• Creighton is 2-14 ATS in its last 16 games
• Creighton is 0-9 ATS in its last nine games as the favorite
• The UNDER is 6-1 in Creighton's last seven games vs. Big East opponents

Rutgers vs. Creighton Key Player to Watch

• Nik Graves, G - Creighton Bluejays

Nik Graves is third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.5 points per game, but he also leads the team in assists per game, averaging 4.3 per game, and steals, averaging 1.0. He plays a key role on both sides of the court, so Creighton will need him to bring his best stuff on Thursday night.

Rutgers vs. Creighton Prediction and Pick

I can't trust Rutgers in this spot based on its shooting alone. The Scarlet Knights rank 326th in effective field goal percentage at 47.5%, making them one of the worst shooting teams in all of college basketball. By comparison, Creighton ranks inside the top 100 in shooting, with an eFG% of 53.1%.

Rutgers doesn't make up for its poor shooting with strong defensive play either. The Scarlet Knights rank 260th in defensive efficiency, below Creighton, which comes in at 213th.

With poor shooting and subpar defense, I can't see Rutgers' path to victory.

Pick: Creighton -3.5 (-115) via FanDuel

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