Creighton vs. San Diego State: Best Elite 8 Bets & Picks (Sunday)
The San Diego State Aztecs took down the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Alabama Crimson Tide, to advance to the Elite 8 against the Creighton Bluejays. For the Bluejays, they didn't face a team quite at the level of Alabama in this tournament. Their best win to this point was over the third-seeded Baylor Bears. Here are our top bets, picks and predictions for Sunday’s Elite 8 showdown.
- Creighton vs. San Diego State Elite Eight Preview
- Miami vs. Texas Elite Eight Preview
- Miami vs. Texas Same Game Parlay Picks
- Elite 8 Player Prop Bet Predictions
- NCAA Tournament Survivor Guide For the Elite Eight (Sunday)
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Best Elite 8 Picks & Predictions: Creighton vs. San Diego State
Same Game Parlay Picks
San Diego State Over 67.5 (+100)
The Aztecs’ defense has been incredible all season long, and that impressive play has carried over into the NCAA Tournament. They held both the Charleston Cougars and Furman Paladins to under 60 points. And if you still weren't convinced they were legit, they held the Crimson tide to just 64.
But the Bluejays have a really solid offense, so we recommend not playing the Under for this game. Instead, start your parlay with the Aztecs to score 68 or more points in this game. They have gone over 70 in their last two games, and are actually averaging 72 per game this season. Most are only talking about their defense, but in a game where they're going to have to score to keep up with the Bluejays, expect them to do just that.
Darrion Trammell 10+ Points (-115)
One of the leading scorers for the Aztecs on Sunday will be Trammell. He had 21 points against the Crimson Tide after a 13-point performance against the Paladins in the Round of 32. He has been wildly inconsistent from the field this season. Prior to his last two games, five of his previous six saw him score in double figures.
But Trammell is a gamer, and he has shown up throughout the season when the Aztecs need him most. Look for him to continue his hot shooting against a Bluejays' defense that allows 71 points per game.
Creighton -1.5 (-125)
So far it seems like we're taking the Aztecs, doesn't it? Actually, we're not. The Bluejays are going to win this game and advance to their first Final Four in team history. Many will point to the ease of their path to the Elite Eight as well as the Aztecs' marquee win over the Crimson Tide as reasons why the Bluejays will falter, but we disagree.
The Aztecs essentially won their national championship on Friday. They took down the No. 1 team in the country and advanced to their first Elite Eight ever. These huge victories point to a letdown for the Aztecs. Meanwhile, the Bluejays are still looking for a marquee win, and they are just going to simply be more up for this game. Look for a close game down the stretch that sees the Bluejays get enough shots to go in to seal the win.
Parlay: +850
Game Predictions
Creighton was a preseason top-ten team and is getting a lot of love in this matchup, as it is playing to that potential. However, San Diego State’s familiarity with the Bluejays should come in handy on Sunday, and that could be the difference.
In last year’s Round of 64 matchup, the Aztecs pressured the Bluejays into 20 turnovers and held them to 2-of-14 shooting from beyond the arc. Creighton point guard Ryan Nembhard did not play in that game, but we also expect a better performance from Aztecs forward Nathan Mensah, who was scoreless and fouled out after playing 13 minutes.
San Diego State imposed its will on an Alabama team that had won 14 games by at least 20 points this season. Most impressive was the way it competed on the backboards. Alabama ranks first in D-I with 44.6 rebounds per game and seventh in rebounding differential (+7.2). However, the Aztecs held tough on the glass against the Crimson Tide, securing 17 offensive rebounds and 48 rebounds in total.
San Diego State is more experienced than Creighton (21st compared to 158th in D-I experience) and has a much deeper bench (31st in bench minutes compared to the BlueJays, who rank 351st). We expect Aztecs head coach Brian Dutcher to use that to his advantage with just one day off between games, and San Diego State has covered both of its games following a one-day layoff. As a result, we are passing on the +1.5 points on the spread and opting for more value with the Aztecs as moneyline underdogs.
Pick: San Diego State ML (+110)
Player Prop Bets
Creighton
| Prop | Odds | Units | To Win | Book |
| Ryan Nembhard Over 3.5 Assists | -105 | 1.05 | 1 | DK |
San Diego State
| Prop | Odds | Units | To Win | Book |
| Lamont Butler Under 3.5 Rebounds | -110 | 1.1 | 1 | DK |
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