by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Dec 11, 2021
Time: Noon ET
Venue: Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Where to watch: FS1
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: BYU -6
BetMGM: BYU -5.5
Caesars: BYU -5.5
Season record
No. 24 BYU: 8-1
Creighton: 7-2
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BYU - Creighton preview and analysis
The BYU Cougars are in need of that statement win, and this week seems like the perfect chance to do it against the Creighton Blue Jays.
Since that overtime loss to Utah Valley almost two weeks ago, BYU responded with wins against Missouri State and Utah State to keep that No. 24 ranking in the AP Top 25.
The Cougars are coming off an 11-point victory against the Aggies, their sixth straight over Utah State in Provo. Senior guard Alex Barcello continued his hot start to the season with a 17-point performance in the victory. Barcello has scored in double figures in 12 straight games.
That run has seen leading scorer Barcello shoot 49.6 percent from the floor, 42 percent from 3-point range. That kind of shooting will continue to open the door for true freshman Fousseyni Traore, who had a career-high 14 points to start his college career.
BYU has covered three of its last four each in a pretty comfortable fashion. The over has also been the play in four of the last five. The Cougars enter this one as high as 6-point favorites in some books. On a neutral site, that's not a bad number to consider.
As for the Blue Jays, they're playing their second straight ranked opponent after losing by six points to Iowa State last week. The No. 19 Cyclones put on a defensive clinic to shut down Creighton.
Creighton has a balanced attack throughout its starting five, primarily with three Ryans. Ryan Kalkbrenner is averaging 12.2 points and 6. 1 rebounds; Ryan Nembhard averages 12.7 points and just under five assists a game; and Ryan Hawkins being the top scorer at 13.3 points on almost 48 percent shooting.
Prediction
BYU's strength of schedule far outweighs Creighton to this point, and I'm not even sure what to expect on the latter's front. Being on a neutral court should prove vital for BYU. The Cougars' defense has been largely better this season than Creighton's offense, and I think BYU hangs on for a pivotal victory. BYU by 12
Betting trends
BYU is 28-20 ATS in its last 48 as a favorite.
BYU is 19-11 ATS in its last 30 following a home game.
Creighton is 11-7 ATS in its last 18 as an underdog.
Projected starting lineup
BYU:
PG: Te’Jon Lucas
SG: Alex Barcello
SF: Trevin Knell
PF: Seneca Knight
C: Caleb Lohner
SF: Trevin Knell
PF: Seneca Knight
C: Caleb Lohner
Creighton:
PG: Ryan Nembhard
SG: Alex O’Connell
SF: Ryan Kalkbrenner
PF: Arthy Kaluma
C: Ryan Hawkins
SF: Ryan Kalkbrenner
PF: Arthy Kaluma
C: Ryan Hawkins
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
