Creighton Bluejays vs. San Diego State Aztecs: Elite Eight Predictions, Preview, Picks & Odds - 3/26/2023

Time: 2:20 p.m. ET

Venue: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY

Where to watch: CBS

DraftKings: Creighton -2

BetMGM: Creighton -2

Caesars: Creighton -2

Creighton: 24-12

San Diego State: 30-6

March is here! March Madness! All the hoopla to get you ready for what should be a fun way to end the season. But as the season continues to progress with what seems like exciting action every week, you know our champion handicappers continue to put the work in each and every week to not only make money for them, but to ensure you get money in your pocket. All you need to do is look at the last 30 days. Scott Rickenbach has reeled in a net profit of $14,000 with a 24-9-0 run on the college hardwood. Team Del Genio has killed it with a 13-1-0 run at +$11,900. Will Rogers (28-15-0) and Matt Fargo (40-27-0) have also seen five figures over the last 30 days with college basketball. Surely, you want to get on this winning as well. All you need to do is go to bigal.com, check out our Best Bets page and make sure you are following along on the action. March will be here before you know it! Take advantage of our best plays and find out what our champion handicappers are doing at bigal.com!

The funny thing about living in Las Vegas is that when you get to the point that you try to hold on to as much as you can about a national championship that was won in 1990 and you don't do anything until much later, you realize that there are going to be chances that teams eventually surpass you with the unwavering expectation that things will happen that will make you not want to hold on to that 1990 fever dream any more.

 

I only say that because when you talk about UNLV in this city, you find yourself clinging on to the glory days of the past, which is why they have a statue of the greatest coach to have ever been at the college. And then you're going to suddenly realize that there are teams that are finally going to eventually surpass you in terms of what have you done for me lately and what can you do now.

 

Which brings me to the San Diego State Aztecs, who are in the elite eight for the first time in school history, and are the first Mountain West team to ever reach the elite 8, and they will be taking on the Creighton Blue Jays for the right to go to the final four.

 

San Diego State is not the most well put together team in terms of star power. They don't have the likes of a Kawhi Leonard who can just take over a game at any given instance. They are a team that has long been driven by a collective belief that they can beat any team in the country because of their defense and their willingness to play unselfish basketball.

 

Which is exactly why they are now one win away from the final four, because they put forth probably one of their best defensive efforts in recent program history when they defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide, the number one overall seed in the country, to advance to this point where they can face creation. And surprisingly enough when you look at how this team unfolded from the onslaught, there was always that thinking that when it came to the Mountain West, there wasn't a team that could actually make that next step and become that team that could actually make a run. But don't get it twisted. It definitely helps matters that San Diego State has been able to win tournament games against Charleston and a college named Furman to get to the point where it could take on Alabama and actually win.

 

That's not taking anything away from Creighton either who had to be North Carolina State, Baylor, and the shocking one of them all, Princeton. That Princeton game was no slouch and anyone who says that it was has no idea how to proceed with their daily lives as it pertains to this ridiculous tournament. Creighton averaged 77 points per game this season and gave up 71, which is exactly how much San Diego State scored this year.

 

The biggest challenge will be Creighton trying to find a way to crack the code that is this San Diego State defense. Always one of the best programs in the country on that side of the ball, San Diego State gave up just 57 points per game this season and not many teams have found a way to crack that code. That would also include Alabama.

 

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but San Diego State has the inside track here. This is going to be a weird Final Four. San Diego State 73, Creighton 66

PG: Ryan Nembhard

SG: Trey Alexander

SF: Baylor Scheierman

PF: Arthur Kaluma

C: Ryan Kalkbrenner

PG: Darrion Trammell

SG: LaMont Butler

SF: Matt Bradley

PF: Micah Parrish

C: Keshad Johnson