Friday gets the college basketball March Madness betting 2025 odds going for the ladies. Now, it is advance or head home. Two Midwest teams from different conferences faceo e in the opening play-in game. Creighton vs Illinois bets examine some betting options in what could be quite the matchup from Austin, Texas.
- WHAT: No. 23 Creighton Bluejays versus Illinois Fighting Illini
- WHEN: Saturday, March 22nd, 2025, 7:15 pm ET on ESPN/ESPN+
- WHERE: Moody Center, Austin, Texas
- WHY: Who advances to the next round on Monday?
Fans and pundits wonder who will move on after this exciting 8-9 matchup. Now, the winner draws top-seeded Texas on Monday on their home court.
Creighton vs Illinois By The Numbers
Creighton vs Illinois Bets Extremely Close
Creighton vs Illinois bets expect to be extremely close. While some may debate whether either one of these teams deserves to have their tournament fate decided by Texas, others worry about this matchup only. Illinois rolls in at 21-9 while Creighton went 26-6 during the 2025 regular season.
Currently, the selection committee probably regrets making Creighton a nine seed. After all, the Bluejays went 16-2 in the Big East. That is not easy to do. It was a bit of a down year for a few other power teams. That could have painted a slightly less than rosy picture for the Bluejays.
Illinois went 11-7 during Big 10 play and that was good enough for 5th in the conference. The Fighting Illini come into the tournament losers of four straight games. Creighton advanced to face Connecticut and promptly got blown out by 20 points. That was a theme in all three of their matchups.
Now, the ESPN predictor gives Illinois a 56.2% chance to take on Texas. Creighton only gets less than 44%. Who will take some temporary happiness into the brick wall of a Round 2 game on Saturday.
Tossing Between The Bluejays And The Fighting Illini
Creighton vs Illinois bets start tossing between the Bluejays and the Fighting Illini This game places a good deal more pressure on Illinois We did mention the fact that Creighton carries more than a nine-point scoring differential. Hey, so does Illinois. One would never know that due to the losing streak.
This South Region clash gets highlighted by the guards. Creighton carries a very slight uptick when it comes to CarPlay. Creighton's two big women combine for 35.1 points per game. Lauren Jensen and Morgan Maly offer quite a dilemma for Shauna Green and company. However, the biggest obstacles to advancing may be if they can stop the forwards from Creoghton. It is the matchup of the might and few have an idea of how this may go.
Anyway, the coaching matchup part of this is fascinating. The oddest concept is that Creighton blew out Seton Hall. The Seton Hall squad won 13 teams in the Big East. Despite that, Creighton defeating Seton Hall did not move the needle much at all. It was as if the selection committee ignored certain aspects of the bodies at work.
Now, the wildcard could be Kendall Bostic. Bostic looms at 6-foot-2. who can run the floor, post up, and even knock down some perimeter shots. Morgan Maly has gone up against some of the best 2-3 players. Not only that Maly has been successful against players like this, she has scored on her own right. Having Molly Mogenson, who is basically like a small player who plays big. This shapes up to be close right down to the last minute with Creighton sneaking out the back door to victory.
Creighton vs Illinois Bets Offer More Betting Choices
So, Creighton vs bets offer up more betting choices. The two teams play a pretty similar pace. Even their point differentials are about the same. Their leading scorers average around the same level. Now, this knocks out postarado that the game could go one of two ways. Either this is way off and the tempo ticks much higher or indeed this trends towards more sloppy play and less scoring. Opting for the latter is a safer wager. Both teams want to force mistakes and play a little more closer to the vest.
Okay, projected numbers started at 137.5 for the opening. Would anyone be surprised by a score in the 65-70 range for each team in this tilt? Nerves might play a bit of role in this one especially come the fourth quarter. That is correct. Unlike the men, there are four 10-minute quarters in ladies college basketball. It pauses some action while keeping the proceedings moving.
Besides the game totals, are there other choices for us to consider? That under 69.5 points for Illinois rumbles in at +115 on BetUS. Among a few other wagers might be the usual Race To X scenarios. Taking Creighton to pull into a lead early would not shock anyone expect. The Bluejays might even lead this wire to wire. . Currently the Game Total dipped from 139.5 to 137.5. Numbers like that could move a little more.
Creighton is EVEN to win the first half and +105 to win the second 20 minutes. Creighton could be considered a little more battle tested.
Several Sites Are There For The Bettors
Several sites are there for the bettors including Bovada, BetUS, and BetOnline. When it comes to March Madness, we go for the more modest wagerse headlining some of the best sportsbook bonuses and promotions. BetUS Online Sportsbook Review features a few underrated promotions and bonuses along with Bovada and BetOnline.
Finally, remember that the action is just beginning. With several roads to go, betting responsibly is important here. Good luck!
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