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The Creighton Bluejays and the NC State Wolfpack will face off today at 4:00 p.m. ET for the Round of 64. Who should we be backing? WeBeatTheSpread answers.
ANALYSIS

Creighton vs. NC State Prediction, Pick Against the Spread, and Latest Odds for Round of 64

The NCAA Tournament is in full swing on day two, and Friday brings a matchup between the Creighton Bluejays and the NC State Wolfpack. The game is expected to be a close one between the six and eleven seeds, with both teams looking to advance in the tournament, but I don't think this game will be all that close.

Creighton vs. NC State Start Time, Where to Watch, Odds

  • Date: March 17, 2023
  • Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to Watch: TNT

Click here for Creighton vs. NC State odds

Creighton vs. NC State Prediction

Looking at the numbers, it's clear that Creighton has a balanced team, ranking 28th in offensive efficiency and 16th in defensive efficiency. This makes them a dangerous opponent for any team in the tournament, as a balanced frontcourt and backcourt have been the key to longer tournament runs over the years. One player who stands out for the Bluejays is Ryan Kalkbrenner, who is one of the best pure-scoring big men in the country. He is shooting an impressive 74% from two this season, which is fourth in the country.

On the other side of the court, NC State has had a somewhat disappointing season, raising questions about how they made it to the tournament in the first place. The Wolfpack only beat three tournament teams all season, the last being an overtime home win against Miami on January 14th. They went 4-5 against teams ranked in Ken Pomeroy’s Top 100, and only one of those wins was against a team ranked in the top 50.

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The Bluejays are also one of the best teams in the country at reducing opponents’ rate of taking 3-pointers, which could make things difficult for the Wolfpack, who can rely on the three-ball at times.

NC State's defense has also been lacking, ranking 87th on Kenpom. This is not a good sign when facing off against a team like Creighton, who have been averaging 77 or more points in five of its last eight games. The Wolfpack are one of the worst teams in the country at drawing fouls, which means they may have trouble getting points on the board.

All signs point to Creighton being able to cover the spread in this game. They are a balanced team with a strong offense and defense, and they match up well against NC State's weaknesses. On top of Creighton's potent scorers in Kalkbrenner, Nembhard, and Scheierman, they also have a much better defense than NC State's. They also make 76.7% of their free throws, which is 29th in the nation. Free throws may be key to covering here if the game is within a few possessions late. There are better-upset picks on the board today. I don't think Creighton is a team to fade right now.

Creighton vs. NC State Pick

Article Author

NCAABBoxing/MMAMLBNHL

Ben Rajavuori is a handicapper out of Minneapolis, MN. He has been creating sports content for almost four years now and is an expert in all things NFL, MLB, NBA, UFC, and NCAAB. Ben thrives on diving deep into statistics to find the best angle on every bet. You can follow him on Twitter @WeBeatTheSpread.

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