The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will take on the Creighton Bluejays in the NIT Tournament. This postseason game will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Fans can catch the action on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 10:30 PM ET on FS1.
Rutgers comes from the Big Ten Conference with a regular season record of 14-19. Recently, they faced the UCLA Bruins and lost by 13 points. Before that, they secured wins against Minnesota and Penn State. Key players like Lino Mark and Tariq Francis have been contributing in recent games.
Creighton, representing the Big East Conference, finished their regular season with a 15-17 record. In their last game, they lost to Seton Hall by 11 points. Earlier, they defeated Butler by 17 points. Josh Dix and Nik Graves have shown strong performances in recent games.
Creighton Preview
The Creighton Bluejays are part of the Big East Conference. In the 2025 postseason, they played in the South Region. They won their first-round game against Louisville with a score of 89-75. In the second round, they lost to Auburn, 82-70.
During the 2026 regular season, the Bluejays had an overall record of 15-17. In conference play, they recorded a 9-12 record. Their recent games included a loss to Seton Hall, where they scored 61 points. They also had a win against Butler, scoring 76 points.
Offensively, the Bluejays averaged 75.1 points per game. They had a field goal percentage of 44.8 and made 9.8 three-pointers per game. Defensively, they averaged 5.8 steals and 2.7 blocks per game. They also committed 14.3 fouls per game.
Josh Dix was a key player, averaging 13 points per game. Jasen Green contributed with 10.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Nik Graves added 10.5 points and led the team with 138 assists. Austin Swartz scored 10.9 points per game, showing strong shooting skills.
Rutgers Preview
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights are part of the Big Ten Conference.
- In the 2026 regular season, they had an overall record of 14-19.
- Their conference record was 7-15.
In recent games, Rutgers had mixed results. They lost to UCLA Bruins by 13 points with a score of 59-72. Lino Mark scored 17 points and had 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Darren Buchanan Jr. contributed 9 points and 9 rebounds.
Rutgers won against Minnesota Golden Gophers by 5 points, scoring 72-67. Tariq Francis was the top scorer with 29 points. Jamichael Davis added 13 points and 6 assists. Emmanuel Ogbole also scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.
Against Penn State Nittany Lions, Rutgers won by 12 points with a score of 74-62. Darren Buchanan Jr. had 13 rebounds and 8 points. Tariq Francis scored 18 points, while Lino Mark added 16 points. These performances helped Rutgers secure the win.
Statistical Breakdown for Creighton vs Rutgers
The game between Creighton Bluejays and Rutgers Scarlet Knights will be shaped by key stats. Creighton has a stronger offense, averaging 75.1 points per game, while Rutgers averages 70.6 points. Creighton’s field goal percentage is higher at 44.8 compared to Rutgers’ 41.8. Creighton also makes more three-pointers per game. Defensively, both teams have similar stats in steals and blocks. However, Rutgers commits more fouls per game, which could impact the game.
- Creighton Points Per Game: 75.1
- Rutgers Points Per Game: 70.6
- Creighton Field Goal Percentage: 44.8
- Rutgers Field Goal Percentage: 41.8
- Creighton 3PT Made Per Game: 9.8
- Rutgers 3PT Made Per Game: 6.6
- Creighton Steals Per Game: 5.8
- Rutgers Steals Per Game: 6.1
- Creighton Blocks Per Game: 2.7
- Rutgers Blocks Per Game: 3.4
- Creighton Fouls Per Game: 14.3
- Rutgers Fouls Per Game: 16.6
Betting Insights
The upcoming game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Creighton Bluejays offers intriguing betting opportunities. Rutgers has shown a strong performance as an underdog against the spread, while Creighton has been solid in straight-up games as a favorite. Both teams have trends in the Over/Under category that bettors should consider. Here are the top betting trends to keep in mind for this game:
- Rutgers is 10-8-1 ATS as an underdog (52.6%).
- Creighton is 7-2-1 ATS as an underdog (70.0%).
- Rutgers has hit the Over in 4 of their last 5 games (80.0%).
- Creighton has a 4-1 SU record in their last 5 games (80.0%).
- Rutgers is 5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 games (50.0%).
Free Betting Prediction for Creighton vs Rutgers
Creighton Bluejays have a strong offense, scoring 75.1 points per game. Their shooting accuracy is better than Rutgers, with a field goal percentage of 44.8. Creighton also makes more three-pointers, which could be a key factor in the game. Their recent win against Butler shows they can perform well under pressure.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights have been inconsistent, but they have had some good performances. They recently won against Minnesota and Penn State. Tariq Francis and Lino Mark have been important players for Rutgers. However, their lower shooting percentage and higher foul rate might hurt them against Creighton.
Considering the stats and recent performances, Creighton is likely to win. They have a better offense and shooting stats. Rutgers might struggle to keep up, especially with their higher foul rate. Creighton’s recent form and home advantage give them the edge.
- Our Free Prediction: Creighton -2.5
