NBA Postseason Best Bets (5/17)
Alex Christenson
The college basketball season is almost two weeks away, and here at FTN Bets we have you covered for what promises to be another thrilling year of upsets and incredible finishes. I will be taking you around the country with a betting preview of the major conferences and mid-major teams. I recap the betting trends from last season, list projected starters, preview the season, identify a key player and reveal how I’m backing or fading each team.
Let’s continue our preview with the Big East. Despite a midseason slump that saw Connecticut lose five of six games, head coach Danny Hurley always believed in the ceiling for his talented Huskies team. Connecticut ended the regular season winning eight of their last nine games, before suffering a two-point semifinal loss to eventual Big East Tournament champion Marquette. The top teams in this conference are exceptionally strong and compare favorably with any other conference, the Big 12 included. Connecticut and Marquette are top-20 teams this season, with Villanova, Creighton and Xavier rostering fantastic talent. Villanova was the dominant Big East team for a decade, with three Final Four appearances in a four-year span from 2015-2018. Last season, Creighton fell by one point, 57-56, to San Diego State in the Elite Eight.
Can the Big East return a team, or two, the Final Four?
Here’s our betting preview for the Creighton Bluejays.
Creighton Bluejays Betting Preview
Conference: Big East
Head Coach: Greg McDermott (14th season)
2022-2023 Record: 24-13 (14-6)
ATS: 19-18
O/U: 17-19-1
Projected Starters: G Steven Ashworth; G Baylor Scheierman; G Trey Alexander; F Mason Miller; C Ryan Kalkbrenner
Preview: Creighton was the epitome of resiliency last year, bouncing back from an early-season six-game losing streak to reach the Elite Eight. The Bluejays came within a late foul call of making the program’s first Final Four. Creighton returns 63.2% of their minutes from last season, with Baylor Scheierman, Trey Alexander and Ryan Kalkbrenner all returning as starters. The key to this season is whether Utah State transfer Steven Ashworth can replace point guard Ryan Nembhard. The Bluejays were superior on defense, ranking first in adjusted defensive efficiency, effective field goal percentage allowed and 2P percentage allowed. There will not be much impact from new faces, leaving Ashworth as the key addition to a strong Creighton nucleus.
Key Player: Trey Alexander
After a true sophomore jump last season, Alexander may be ready to challenge for Big East POY honors with his complete floor game. The 6-foot-4 combo guard can drill it from deep (41% 3PT), pass the ball, create events on the defensive end and make free throws. We expect Creighton to be a factor in the Big East and March again this season, with Alexander leading the Bluejays elite play on the offensive end.
Projection: Do not be thrown off by early-season losing streaks. Creighton reached an Elite Eight (and a whisker away from a Final Four) despite losing six games in a row. Connecticut won a national title despite losing five of six, and Auburn reached the 2019 Final Four with a three-game losing streak. Kalkbrenner is the reigning two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Scheierman is deadly from deep and Alexander is a great all-around player. Marquette and UConn lead the way, but the Bluejays are right there as well.
How I’m Betting Creighton: The Bluejays have not been good at home as a favorite the past two years, going 10-15-2 (37%) ATS. No real pattern anyone else with spread or total, but I do like this team and McDermott. They’ve ranked first in adjusted defensive efficiency the past two seasons, which given their offensive ability, should translate to another fantastic season.
