Akron (14) vs. Creighton (3) Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
The Bluejays return to the Big Dance for a fourth straight year as the No. 3 seed in the Midwest, but have work to do to overcome last week’s 78-73 quarter-final loss to Providence that bounced them from the Big East Tournament and snapped a promising three-game win streak. Following a one-year absence, the Zips return to March Madness as 14-seeds on a high after claiming the MAC Championship with a thrilling 62-61 last-second victory over Kent State. With that victory, the Zips extended their current win streak to three games. However, success has eluded Akron at the NCAA Tournament, where they have bowed out with opening-round losses in five all-time appearances.
The Bluejays have stormed to lofty 12.5-point favourites on the Thursday March Madness odds. The Zips sport lengthy +625 moneyline odds of claiming their first ever tournament win, and the total is pegged at 140.5.
Akron vs. Creighton NCAA Tournament Point Spread and Betting
Wednesday night’s matchup marks the fifth all-time meeting between these squads, and their first clash since December 2016. Creighton has won three of their previous four dates with the Zips including a decisive 71-60 win in their lone postseason clash at the 2006 NIT. Despite losing five of their final scheduled games, the Zips managed to claim a share of second place in the MAC with a 13-5 record, 24-10 overall. But apart from their first two games at the MAC Tournament, they have been a betting disappointment, going 3-8 ATS in their past 11 games.
Conversely, the Bluejays have won and covered in their past nine, on their way to a share of second place in the Big East. Creighton has also gone 6-2 ATS in its past eight March Madness games and their late-season surge has made them an intriguing +2500 dark horse on the national championship futures.
Akron Zips (14)
Enrique Freeman and Ali Ali were the Zips’ top two scorers this season and played like it at this year’s MAC Tournament. Freeman averaged 23.7 points per game during the MAC Championship highlighted by a spectacular 24-point, 21-rebound performance in the team’s 65-62 semi-final win over Ohio and has now recorded double-doubles in 15 of 16 outings. Ali averaged 15.6 points this season and 16 points per game during the march to the MAC crown.
Creighton Bluejays (3)
The Creighton lineup features four players that averaged at least 10 points per game this season. Senior big man Baylor Scheierman led the way with 18 points and nine boards per game, and can’t be faulted for the team’s disappointing performance in the Big East Tournament after piling up 16 points and 13 boards in the loss to Providence to pick up his ninth double-double in 12 outings.
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