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Xavier heads to Omaha to face Creighton on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET at CHI Health Center Omaha, with FS1 carrying this Big East matchup. Creighton is laying a big number at home, and the line is basically daring you to back a Xavier team that’s been shaky away from Cincinnati.
Xavier is 11-7 overall but just 1-4 on the road, so even solid offensive nights have come with defensive lapses and rough stretches. Creighton is 11-8 and 9-3 at home, which is why the market is comfortable putting them in the favorite role again. This is one of those spots where the “who’s better” question matters less than “can the dog keep it connected for 40 minutes.”
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Xavier Musketeers vs Creighton Bluejays Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated numbers on the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xavier Musketeers | +269 | +7.5 (-114) | O 155.5 |
| Creighton Bluejays | -362 | -7.5 (-112) | U 155.5 |
Grand Canyon Antelopes
vs
San Diego St Aztecs
Open
vs
Jan 21, 2026 23:00 EST
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Score
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+1.00 -106
Spread
-1.00 -106
o+143.50-108
Total
u+143.50-108
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Moneyline
–
USC Trojans
vs
Northwestern Wildcats
Open
vs
Jan 21, 2026 23:00 EST
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Score
–
–
Spread
–
o+154.00-108
Total
u+154.00-108
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Moneyline
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Saint Mary’s Gaels
vs
Oregon St Beavers
Open
vs
Jan 21, 2026 23:00 EST
–
Score
–
-17.50 -106
Spread
+17.50 -106
o+142.00-108
Total
u+142.00-108
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Moneyline
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Xavier Musketeers Betting Form
Xavier’s offense is at its best when it’s moving. They don’t want to play hero ball for 25 seconds. The assist number you gave is the tell, they can create good looks when the guards are making quick decisions and the spacing is right. The Butler win was a good example of what Xavier can be when it’s clicking: efficient scoring, multiple creators, and enough balance that you can’t key on one guy.
The problem is that the road version of Xavier has been harder to trust. Some of it is shot quality, some of it is defensive consistency. If Xavier isn’t getting stops, the opponent gets to run and the game turns into a pace-and-shotmaking contest. That’s not always where you want to be in Omaha against a team that’s comfortable scoring in bunches. As a dog, Xavier has covered more often than not, and that’s why +7.5 is at least playable. They’ve shown they can stay inside numbers when the offense stays organized.
Availability matters here, especially for a team that leans on ball movement and spacing. Monitor the Xavier Musketeers injury report before tipoff. If they’re down a rotation shooter or a primary handler is limited, the ceiling drops fast and the cover path narrows.
Creighton Bluejays Betting Form
Creighton at home is a different bet than Creighton on the road. The 9-3 home record tells you the floor is higher in this building, and they tend to play with more pace and confidence early. Offensively, Creighton’s profile is what you want when you’re laying points: they can score efficiently, they can hit threes, and they don’t need a perfect night to get into the high 70s or low 80s.
The other side of it is defense. Creighton can still be leaky, especially when they let teams get comfortable from three or when the transition defense slips. That’s where a spread like -7.5 can get annoying. You can be the better team and still end up winning by five because you traded too many clean looks and didn’t close possessions.
I’d also keep the availability angle in mind because it affects Creighton’s rotations and how aggressively they can pressure the ball. Monitor the Creighton Bluejays injury report before you lock in anything. Even a small minutes restriction for a perimeter defender can matter in a game where you’re trying to create separation.
Xavier Musketeers vs Creighton Bluejays Matchup Breakdown
This matchup feels like a tempo negotiation. Creighton is fine playing fast, especially at home, and Xavier can get pulled into that if they’re not getting set on defense. If Xavier wants the cleanest path to a cover, it probably involves longer possessions, fewer live-ball turnovers, and making Creighton defend in the half court instead of gifting runouts.
Shot profile is the swing point. Both teams can shoot it, so the question becomes who is getting the better version of those threes. Xavier can create quality looks when the passing is sharp, but if Creighton disrupts that first action and forces late-clock shots, the efficiency drops. Creighton’s spacing tends to hold up better at home, and that’s why their scoring floor is higher in this building.
The total at 155.5 is aggressive, but not crazy given the offensive talent and the possibility of a free-throw finish. If the game stays within two possessions late, you can get a lot of points from fouls. If Creighton pulls away early, the tempo can actually slow, and that’s where an under can sneak in even with decent shooting.
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Xavier Musketeers vs Creighton Bluejays Predictions and Best Bets
My first lean is Xavier +7.5. I don’t love backing a 1-4 road team, but the number is doing a lot of work here. Xavier’s offense can keep them competitive if they take care of the ball and keep the shot quality up. They’ve also been solid as an underdog, which fits the idea that they play looser when they’re not expected to control the game.
The case for Creighton is obvious and it’s strong. Home court has been a real advantage, and Creighton can stack scoring runs in this building. If Xavier has one of those road stretches where the defense unravels for five minutes, Creighton can cover without needing a perfect game. That’s the risk you accept with the dog.
For the total, I lean under 155.5. I think Xavier’s best approach is to play more controlled, and Creighton’s easiest path to a cover is getting stops and running, not trading buckets for 40 minutes. The under is not comfortable because both teams can shoot, but I’d still rather be on the side that benefits from a more tactical Big East game than a track meet.
Best Bet: Xavier Musketeers +7.5 (-114).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Big conference games like this are where discipline matters. It’s easy to get pulled into marquee matchups and ignore price. The better approach is comparing your projection to the market, then choosing whether you’re paying for the favorite’s ceiling or buying points with the underdog’s cover paths.
If you’re building a card for the full slate, start with today’s college basketball picks to see where the best numbers and strongest opinions land across the board. And if you want a simple framework to keep your process consistent when you’re betting sides and totals, the sports betting strategy guide is a useful reset for thinking in terms of value, volatility, and price, not just “who wins.”
