Creighton vs Marquette Basketball Prediction & Picks: Will the Bluejays rise from their rut to open Big East play?

The top matchup on tonight’s college basketball schedule is the second half of a Big East doubleheader on FS1, as the reeling Creighton Bluejays visit the rising Marquette Golden Eagles in the conference opener for both teams.

The action between the Bluejays (6-5) and Golden Eagles (8-3) is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 pm ET (7:30 pm local time), with Xavier vs Georgetown first up on FS1.

After starting 6-0, the Bluejays lost five consecutive games to close out non-conference play. The latest blemish was Monday’s 73-71 loss to Arizona State, their second loss in Las Vegas in the span of three days following a loss to BYU last Saturday.

Marquette would know a thing or two about close losses themselves, as an overtime one at home to rival Wisconsin is why they aren’t ranked in the top 25.

But the Golden Eagles enter their Big East slate on the right note, having dispatched a solid Notre Dame squad by 15 in South Bend last Sunday.

Who will pick up valuable win to start their conference calendar? Keep reading for our Creighton vs Marquette prediction, as well as our Bluejays vs Golden Eagles betting picks and analysis.

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Creighton Bluejays vs Marquette Golden Eagles Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline as of Friday, December 16, 2022, at 3:20 pm ET. This article may also include odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites.

Spread

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

Over/Under

• Over 153.5 (-110)
• Under 153.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Creighton +130
• Marquette -156

Kalkbrenner’s Availability or Absence Looms Large for Creighton

Neither of these teams is shy about letting it fly from three, so we should expect plenty of perimeter shots to go up in this matchup.

Creighton enters tonight averaging 26.7 three-point attempts per game, while Marquette is not far behind at 26.3 attempts. They’re also hitting at around the same clip, with the Bluejays at 34.4 percent and the Golden Eagles at 34.3 percent.

The one difference between the two teams at the moment is Marquette’s overall edge in accuracy from the field. While they are shooting 49.5 percent overall from the field, which is 24th in the country, Creighton is shooting 45.8 percent from the field.

Both teams have solid scoring depth as well. All five of Creighton’s regular starters average at least 10.0 PPG, while Marquette has four players averaging double figures.

Shaka Smart will be looking to Kam Jones to continue the strong run he is having at the moment. After averaging 7.4 PPG as a freshman last season, Jones is averaging a team-leading 16.1 PPG this season and has been on fire in leading the Golden Eagles to five wins in their last six games.

Splits for Marquette’s Kam Jones

• First Five Games: 11.8 PPG, 39.0% FG, 25.6 3PT
• Last Six Games: 20.2 PPG, 55.3% FG, 44.4% 3PT

After scoring 15+ points only once in his first five games this season, Jones has scored at least 15 in each of his last six.

That includes 20-point games against Baylor (20 points), Wisconsin (26), and Notre Dame (25). And in this stretch, he has shot at least 50 percent from the field in each game.

If Jones is in fine form again tonight, Creighton will be up against it, especially if big man and leading scorer Ryan Kalkbrenner is sidelined for a third straight game due to illness.

Had he been available against BYU and Arizona State, the Bluejays likely would have both of those games. Instead, they lost to the Cougars by three and to the Sun Devils by two.

Some consistency and improvement would go a long way, even if Kalkbrenner isn’t able to play tonight.

Ryan Nembhard and Trey Alexander didn’t shoot well against either BYU or Arizona State, while Arthur Kaluma and Baylor Scheierman shot well in one game but not the other. Kaluma shot well against BYU but not Arizona State, while Scheierman shot poorly against BYU but shot well against Arizona State.

However, if Kalkbrenner is unable to go, it is encouraging that his replacement in the starting lineup, 6’10’’ freshman Freddie King, had 16 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks in 26 minutes against Arizona State after having four points and no rebounds in 18 minutes against BYU in his first collegiate start.

Creighton vs Marquette Prediction and Picks

Bluejays vs Golden Eagles Prediction: Marquette to win

Bluejays vs Golden Eagles Picks: Kam Jones over 17.5 points (Best Value: -119 at Bovada Sportsbook), Kam Jones over 2.5 made threes (+102 at Bovada Sportsbook) & Marquette team total over 78.5 points (Best Value: -106 at BetOnline)

Even with King’s increased impact against Arizona State, I still can’t ride with Creighton with the uncertainty around Kalkbrenner’s availability.

They are still a very talented team even if he isn’t on the floor, but they are not getting the offensive contributions they need elsewhere to win right now.

The sky isn’t falling for the Bluejays, as the strength of their schedule and a couple of solid wins in the bank (versus Texas Tech and Arkansas in Maui), with more likely to come, will keep them in a strong position to make the NCAA Tournament as a decent seed if they get back on track soon.

I think they will do that, but I don’t see them leaving Fiserv Forum with the win tonight. Look for Jones to keep his hot streak going and to lead the way as the Golden Eagles open Big East play with a win.

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