Las Vegas NCAA Free Pick: Creighton Bluejays at Drake Bulldogs

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

by Joe Rodriguez

Jahenns Manigat - Las Vegas NCAA Free Pick: Creighton Bluejays at Drake Bulldogs

Boasting its highest ranking since 2003, No. 14 Creighton Bluejays looks to extend its eight-game winning streak.

The visiting Bluejays face a surging Drake Bulldogs team that has won four of five to climb into a tie for third in the Missouri Valley.

Creighton needs a win to keep pace with Wichita State and avoid a blemish on its solid NCAA Tournament resume. Creighton defeated Drake in Omaha earlier this month, 76-59, but the teams have split the season series the last three years.

Drake is 9-1 at home, while Creighton is 7-1 on the road, the third best mark in the country.

- Creighton Bluejays @ Drake Bulldogs
When: 8:05 PM ET, Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Where: Knapp Center, Des Moines, Iowa
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, Mediacom MC22 (Iowa), KMTV (Omaha)
Check Live NCAA Basketball Odds on Justbet Sportsbook .

Justbet Sportsbook currently have the Bluejays listed as 6½-point favorites versus the Bulldogs.

Creighton Bluejays (18-2): Although sophomore Doug McDermott's stock dipped somewhat last week with two subpar performances, Creighton's continues to rise. McDermott was held to 12 points against Indiana State on Saturday, but the Bluejays took care of business at home, 75-49. With McDermott (.507), Jahenns Manigat (.500) and Ethan Wragge (.449), Creighton has three of the top four 3-point shooters in the Valley. Creighton leads the nation in both field-goal percentage (.514) and 3-point percentage (.451).

Drake Bulldogs (12-8): The Bulldogs pack one of the best one-two scoring punches in the Valley with junior Ben Simons and sophomore Rayvonte Rice. Simons leads the league in 3-pointers with 49 and averages 15.5 points. Rice, who set Drake's freshman scoring record last season, posts 16.9 points and leads the Valley in steals with 2.3 per game. The Bulldogs are coming off a 66-52 loss at Northern Iowa on Sunday, which ended their longest winning streak in two years at four.

1. Drake is 1-8 against ranked teams over the past 10 years, including 0-3 at home.

2. McDermott leads the Missouri Valley in rebounding with 8.5 per game and could become just the second player in Creighton history to do so at season’s end.

3. Creighton’s last NCAA Tournament win came in 2003 when Terrell Taylor hit a 3-pointer over current Drake assistant coach Brett Nelson with 0.2 seconds remaining to beat Florida.

BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Bluejays 78, Bulldogs 67.

Bet on NCAA College Basketball games with Justbet Sportsbook , Bet now!

Related Articles

Category

Tags

ben simons - brett nelson - creighton bluejays - doug mcdermott - drake bulldogs - ethan wragge - jahenns manigat - knapp center - ncaa tournament - rayvonte rice

Share this page