Big East Championship Game: Creighton vs. St. John's odds, picks and predictions
The Creighton Bluejays (24-9) and the No. 5 St. John's Red Storm (29-4) meet Saturday in the Big East Championship Game at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Tip-off is scheduled for approximately 6:30 p.m. ET (FOX). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's college basketball odds around the Creighton vs. St. John's odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
The second-seeded Bluejays ousted the 2-time defending champion UConn Huskies in the semifinals Friday, winning 71-62 as 4-point underdogs, with the Under (138.5) cashing. It was a nice bounce-back game after Creighton was nearly shown the door by lowly DePaul in a narrow 85-81 OT win in the quarterfinals Thursday.
Creighton has won 4 in a row, going 3-1 against the spread (ATS) during that span. The Over has cashed in 3 straight, although the Under hit against UConn in their last matchup.
The top-seeded Red Storm picked up a 79-73 win over the Bluejays Feb. 16, while Creighton hung on as a 6.5-point underdog in New York City, with the Over (143.5) cashing. Swingman RJ Luis Jr. had 23 points and 14 rebounds in the victory.
Creighton won 57-56 against St. John's in the first meeting in Omaha as a 1-point favorite, with the Under (151.5) connecting on New Year's Eve. C Ryan Kalkbrenner contributed 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots in the victory.
St. John's has won 8 in a row, covering 6 of the past 7 games. The Under is on a 4-1 run for the Johnnies, too.
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Creighton vs. St. John's odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:45 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML) : Creighton +240 (bet $100 to win $240) | St. John's -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
: Creighton +240 (bet $100 to win $240) | St. John's -300 (bet $300 to win $100) Against the spread : Creighton +6.5 (-105) | St. John's -6.5 (-115)
: Creighton +6.5 (-105) | St. John's -6.5 (-115) Over/Under (O/U): 140.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Creighton vs. St. John's picks and predictions
Prediction
St. John's 73, Creighton 65
St. John's (-300) will cost you 3 times your potential return, and that's way too much risk for not nearly enough reward. These teams split during the regular season, and Creighton (+240) is always dangerous in the postseason.
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ST. JOHN'S -6.5 (-115) is worth playing lightly in what is essentially a home game at Madison Square Garden. If this game were played at a true neutral floor, things might go another way for Creighton +6.5 (-105).
The Red Storm have covered both games in this conference tourney, and they're 6-1 ATS in the past 7 games.
Creighton has split against the spread in the first 2 games of this season, nearly losing outright as a double-digit favorite against DePaul Thursday. The Bluejays are just 3-4 ATS in the past 7 games.
LEAN UNDER 140.5 (-115).
The O/U has split 3-3 in the past 6 games for the Bluejays.
The Over cashed in the last meeting Feb. 16 at MSG, but the Under easily hit in the first matchup Dec. 31 in Omaha.
St. John's has cashed the Under in 4 of the past 5 games, and the total has gone low in 3 in a row on a neutral floor for the Johnnies.
UNDER 140.5 (-115) is worth playing very lightly.
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