Arguably one of the biggest games of the evening, No. 23 Creighton travels to Spokane to face No. 19 Gonzaga. Creighton opened its season with a 92-76 win over South Dakota but failed to cover the 29.5-point spread. Gonzaga, meanwhile, has started strong with wins over Texas Southern and Oklahoma, covering in both matchups.
Line Movement
The line movement for this game has been dancing like your parents in the mid-seventies. The spread opened at 8.5 in favor of Gonzaga and has since climbed to 12. The total opened at 161.5 and has jumped to 165.5.
Many believe this spread is way too high and is disrespecting Creighton, but I disagree. I grabbed Gonzaga at -9.5 on Monday afternoon, and the number has since risen to 12 on BetOnline. Anything higher than 12 feels like too much, but I am confident the Bulldogs roll tonight.
Trust Experience
Gonzaga enters the season with one of the oldest and most experienced lineups in the country. Excluding freshman Mario Saint-Supry, their starters have logged years of college basketball experience. They know what it takes to handle big moments in tough environments, and they have the luxury of playing in their home gym. Even as a freshman, Saint-Supry has been impressive, leading the team with 4.5 assists per game through two contests. Surrounded by veteran teammates, he should continue to thrive in this matchup.
Creighton, on the other hand, is navigating the season without Ryan Kalkbrenner, Steven Ashworth, and Jamiyah Neal, three key pieces no longer part of the roster. The Bluejays return only two starters, Jackson McAndrew and Jasen Green. Green has yet to play this year, while McAndrew is averaging 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. The lack of familiarity and experience together will be evident tonight in Spokane.
I am leaning heavily on Gonzaga's experience, depth, and home-court advantage in what should be their first real test of the season. With an extra game under their belt and proven chemistry, I expect the Bulldogs to handle business and cover the spread.
This is the type of early-season matchup where experience tends to shine through. Creighton is still finding its rhythm and identity, while Gonzaga looks settled and confident. The Bulldogs have veterans who understand tempo, spacing, and how to execute late in games. In front of a loud home crowd and with momentum already building, I believe Gonzaga makes a statement tonight and reminds everyone why they remain one of college basketball's most consistent programs.
