Louisville vs Creighton March Madness First Round: Predictions and How to Watch 8 vs 9 Matchup
The #8 Louisville Cardinals (27-7) face the #9 Creighton Bluejays (24-10) in a compelling March Madness first-round matchup. Louisville enters as 2.5-point favorites after winning 21 of their last 23 games.
Basketball player wearing black jersey
Game Details:
- Time: 12:15pm ET
- Location: Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
- TV: CBS
- Spread: Louisville -2.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Louisville -155, Creighton +130
- Total: 145.5
Key Factors:
- Louisville has home-court advantage playing in Kentucky
- Cardinals finished 18-2 in ACC regular season
- Louisville ranks 23rd in KenPom (Creighton 36th)
- Cardinals' strong guard play led by Chucky Hepburn (16 PPG, 6 APG)
- Louisville's perimeter defense holds opponents under 34% from 3
Why Louisville Will Win:
- Elite backcourt featuring ACC Defensive Player of the Year Hepburn
- Four senior starters provide crucial experience
- Strong perimeter defense to contain Creighton's shooters
- Effective double-team strategy against opposing big men
- Home court advantage in Kentucky
Creighton Concerns:
- Lost second-leading scorer Pop Isaacs earlier this season
- Steven Ashworth's 22% turnover rate vulnerable against pressure
- Three-point shooting ranks 178th nationally (34% of attempts)
- Heavily reliant on center Ryan Kalkbrenner
Prediction: Louisville's superior guard play, home-court advantage, and defensive prowess should lead them to victory. The Cardinals match up well with Creighton's size and can effectively neutralize Kalkbrenner with double teams. Take Louisville -2.5.
Looking ahead, Louisville could be a dark horse Final Four contender if they can upset top-seeded Auburn in a potential second-round matchup.