NC State vs. Creighton Predictions, Odds & Picks: Should this March Madness Battle Be on Upset Watch?
NC State vs. Creighton Predictions, Odds & Picks: Should this March Madness Battle Be on Upset Watch?iv class=”bodyContent col-lg-9 mb-3″>

A spot in the Round of 32 is on the line for 11th-seeded NC State and sixth-seeded Creighton for Friday's opening-round March Madness battle. Read on for our NC State vs. Creighton prediction based on the top NCAAB odds.

We have another March Madness upset prediction.

In perhaps one of the more underrated matchups for Friday's slate, Creighton (21-12) and NC State (23-10) will meet up in the Round of 64 in Denver. The Bluejays, who pushed Kansas to the brink in the Round of 32 last year, are expected to win this week's matchup by nearly two full possessions via the latest March Madness odds.

Creighton could very well be on the verge of making a deep run in the South region. But are we underestimating a Wolfpack squad that is dancing for the first time since 2018? Well, I'm glad you asked, I think we might be.

Here is our best NC State vs. Creighton prediction (odds via BetMGM; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

NC State vs. Creighton odds

NC State vs. Creighton prediction

The Bluejays were incredibly overhyped heading into the college basketball season and failed to live up to expectations. Yet people are still talking themselves into a deep run, despite the fact a No. 6 seed hasn't made the Final Four in 31 years and only once has a team on this seed line even reached the Sweet 16 in the last five tourneys.

None of that means the Bluejays are going to lose in the opening round, of course, but it feels like the majority of people aren't even entertaining the idea of an upset. A total of 66.4% of ESPN brackets submitted are backing Creighton in this matchup. 

But not my bracket. (Check out Sportsbook Review's expert March Madness bracket predictions here, and download our free printable March Madnes s bracket.)

Check out our March Madness best bets for Friday! Our Mike Spector went 3-1 on Thursday's games.

NC State is absolutely live on Friday, and I will certainly be taking the points. The Wolfpack are led by the combo of sophomore guard Terquavion Smith and senior big man D.J. Burns Jr. They don't turn the ball over at all, posting the fourth-best turnover rate in the country. NC State also 51st in the fewest 3-point attempts on defense, per ShotQuality.

Creighton gets 34.9% of its scoring production from 3-point range, where it is shooting 36% on the year. The last time we saw the Bluejays in action was an 82-60 thumping by Xavier. They have lost four of their last eight games, and have been inconsistent all year as evidenced by their 140th consistency ranking on Haslametrics.

It seems like nearly every upset spot has been highlighted in the opening round except this one. NC State is capable of surprising, but at the very least, we will take the points against a team that has been underwhelming all season long.

NC State vs. Creighton best odds

DraftKings FanDuel BetMGM Caesars PointsBet
+5.5 +5.5 +5.5 +5 +5
-110 -115 -110 -110 -110

Check out our breakdown of the best March Madness odds and all of our March Madness picks and betting trends.

Only two of our best sportsbooks offer a 5.5-point spread at -110, making the decision for where to back the underdog pretty easy. I chose BetMGM because their lines typically stay put longer than others, but this three-star pick is playable at +5 or better.

NC State vs. Creighton odds analysis

Creighton opened as a 5-point favorite, but the line touched as high as 5.5 at some sports betting sites before settling back at the opening number as of Friday morning. The total hasn't moved much, either, sitting between 148 and 149 at most places after starting at 148.

The Bluejays are backed by 57% of the ATS action while the Over has drawn 56% of the action on the total.

NC State vs. Creighton game info

  • Date: Friday, March 17, 4 p.m. ET
  • TV: TNT
  • Location: Ball Arena, Denver, CO. 

NC State-Creighton pick made 03/15/2023 at 5:50 p.m. ET.

Here are our best March Madness betting sites:

  • FanDuel: Get 10x Your First Bet up to $200 | Read our FanDuel Review
  • Caesars: Earn Up to a $1,250 Bet Credit | Read our Caesars Review
  • DraftKings: Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets | Read our DraftKings Review
  • PointsBet: Earn Five Second-Chance Bets Up to $50 Each | Read our PointsBet Review
  • BetMGM: Get a Bonus Bet of Up to $1,000 | Read our BetMGM Review

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)* Bonuses not a pplicable in Ontario.

Related pages

  • Best Online Sportsbooks | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)  

  
Read Full Article