Baylor vs. Creighton prediction, odds, time: 2023 NCAA Tournament picks, March Madness bets from proven model

Teams looking to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in two years clash when the Baylor Bears face the Creighton Bluejays in an NCAA Tournament South Region second round game in Denver on Sunday. The Bluejays (22-12, 14-6 Big East), who are looking for their fifth-ever trip to the Sweet 16 and first since 2021, have compiled a 15-24 all-time record in 23 NCAA Tournament appearances. The Bears (23-10, 11-7 Big 12), who won the 2021 national championship, lost in the second round of last year’s tournament. Baylor is 21-14 all-time in 14 NCAA Tournament appearances.

Tip-off is set for 7:10 p.m. ET. Creighton leads the all-time series 3-2, but Baylor won the only NCAA Tournament meeting between the teams, an 85-55 win in the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. The Bluejays are 1-point favorites in the latest Creighton vs. Baylor odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 143. Before making any Baylor vs. Creighton picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters the 2023 NCAA Tournament 79-53 on all-top rated college basketball picks this season, returning nearly $1,300 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns. 

Now, the model has set its sights on Baylor vs. Creighton and revealed its coveted picks and predictions for the NCAA Tournament 2023. You can head to SportsLine to see the picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Creighton vs. Baylor:

Why Baylor can cover

Junior guard L.J. Cryer has reached double-figure scoring in each of the last four games, including a 15-point effort in Friday’s win over UC Santa Barbara. He has also reached 10 or more points in eight of the past nine games. In that stretch, he had a 26-point performance in a 79-67 win over West Virginia on Feb. 13, and 23 points at TCU in a 72-68 win on Feb. 11. In 30 games, all starts, Cryer is averaging 14.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 32.2 minutes of action.

Junior forward Jalen Bridges has also played a big role in the Bears’ success. He has reached double-figure scoring in 18 games on the season, including three of the last five. In Baylor’s 78-72 Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal loss to Iowa State, he scored 28 points, grabbed five rebounds, made three steals and dished off two assists. In 33 starts, Bridges averages 10.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and one block in 27.2 minutes of action.

Why Creighton can cover 

Junior center Ryan Kalkbrenner has been a difference maker for the Bluejays. He is coming off a dominant performance in Friday’s first round win, scoring 31 points, grabbing seven rebounds, blocking three shots and dishing out two assists. He has scored 20 points or more in three of the past four games. In 31 starts, he is averaging 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.3 assists in 32 minutes of action. He is connecting on 71.7% of his field goals and 78.3% of his free throws.

Also helping power Creighton is sophomore guard Trey Alexander. He has scored in double figures in four of the past five games, including a 25-point effort in a 99-59 win over Georgetown on March 1. He had nine points against NC State on Friday. In 34 starts this season, Alexander is averaging 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals. He has been red hot from the field, connecting on 44.9% of his field goals, including 42.8% from 3-point range and 80.7% from the foul stripe.

How to make Creighton vs. Baylor picks

SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 149 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits over 50% of the time. You can only see the model’s pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Baylor vs. Creighton? And which side of the spread hits over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks, and find out.