Creighton vs. Louisville March Madness Preview and Prediction
In the No. 9 vs. No. 8 matchup in the NCAA Tournament South Region, the Creighton Bluejays face the Louisville Cardinals in first-round action.
Make VSiN your home for the duration of the NCAA Tournament and beyond. Take advantage of our college basketball betting tools and previews and predictions on every single March Madness game. We have College Basketball Betting Splits from DraftKings Sportsbook and Circa Sports, updated Vegas College Basketball Odds, College Basketball Odds from other states, College Basketball Matchup Data, and more.
Check out Greg Peterson’s Daily College Basketball Lines, Steve Makinen’s Power Ratings Lines, and look at College Basketball Picks from our VSiN Experts.
How to Watch Creighton vs. Louisville
When: 12:15 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 20th
Where: Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky
Watch: CBS
Odds for Creighton vs. Louisville
(odds current at time of publish)
Spread: Louisville -1.5 (-110), Creighton +1.5 (-110)
Total: Over 144.5 (-110), Under 144.5 (-110)
DraftKings Betting Splits | Live College Basketball Odds | Creighton vs. Louisville Matchup Page
Creighton vs. Louisville Preview & Prediction
In a clash of contrasting styles, the No. 8 Louisville Cardinals and No. 9 Creighton Bluejays are set to square off in what promises to be an intriguing first-round matchup. Both teams enter the tournament with impressive credentials and the potential to make some noise.
Pat Kelsey’s Cardinals have been a revelation this season, reinvigorating the Louisville program and fanbase. Their statistical profile suggests they’re knocking on the door of title contention, with top-25 rankings in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency according to some metrics. While their 3-point shooting has been a concern, they’ve shown significant improvement during ACC play, connecting at over 37%.
On the other side, Greg McDermott’s Bluejays are no strangers to March Madness, making their 10th appearance in 14 seasons. Creighton’s tournament pedigree is impressive, with Sweet 16 appearances in three of the last four seasons. This year’s squad, however, has some unusual statistical quirks that set them apart from recent Bluejay teams.
The key battle will likely be waged beyond the arc. Louisville’s high-volume 3-point attack (over 48% of their shots come from deep) will test Creighton’s perimeter defense. The Bluejays, meanwhile, will look to exploit their nation-leading 2-point shooting percentage against the Cardinals’ stout interior defense.
Creighton’s ability to take care of the ball could be crucial. As one of the worst teams in turnover percentage, they’ll need to limit mistakes against a Louisville team that’s been clutch in close games, going 7-1 in contests decided by six or fewer points.
Both teams have shown they can hang with top competition. Louisville’s strong ACC performance and Creighton’s tough non-conference schedule have prepared them well for this moment. The winner will likely face a stiff test against potential second-round opponent Auburn, but both have the tools to potentially pull an upset.
In the end, this matchup could come down to which team can better overcome their weaknesses. Will Louisville’s improved 3-point shooting hold up on the big stage? Can Creighton find their touch from beyond the arc and the free-throw line? The answers to these questions may well determine who advances to the Round of 32.
Estimated Score: Louisville 74.2, Creighton 71.4
For expert predictions, go to our college basketball best bets page.
