MVC Tournament top-seeds SIU Salukis and Creighton Bluejays set to battle in Championship Game

Sunday, 04 March 2007

MVC Tournament top-seeds SIU Salukis and Creighton Bluejays set to battle in Championship Game Southern Illinois, the top seed in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament , has shown why they are the 11^th best team in the country. On Saturday (Mar. 3) the Salukis’ Matt Shaw tipped in the winning basket with 3.2 seconds to go and SIU defeated the Bradley Braves 53-51 to move into Sunday’s championship game with the second seeded Creighton Bluejays. The winner of today’s game will win the MVC championship and punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament with an automatic bid. Although nothing is guaranteed, If SIU loses in today’s championship game they are almost assured of an at-large berth in the NCAA’s. If Creighton loses, they might have a hard time getting an at-large bid with 12 losses in spite of their 21 wins. The game will be televised nationally by CBS with tip-off from the Scottrade Center in Saint Louis at 2:05 p.m. EST.

According to offshore sportsbook BoDog.com, Southern Illinois is a slim favorite in the championship game against Creighton installed at a -2 point chalk. The total for the game is currently set at 115. Lines and totals for all of Sunday's college hoops can be found at BoDog.com.

During the MVC regular season, SIU defeated Creighton twice straight up but split against the spread. The OVER covered on totals betting in both games. On Feb. 10, SIU won by four on home court 72-68 but fell shy of the +5 cover. In the team’s first meeting on Jan. 20, SIU defeated Creighton on the road by one point 58-57 SU and covering the +4 ½ point chalk as a road underdog.

Leading the way for Creighton has been Preseason MVC Player of the Year Nate Funk. Funk is averaging a league-best 17.5 points per game and also tops the club with 93 assists and 38 steals. Anthony Tolliver, also a preseason all MVC pick, gives Creighton inside muscle with 13.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He also tops the team with 57 blocked shots. Also averaging in double-figures for Creighton are junior forward Dane Watts and senior guard Nick Porter. The Bluejays average 67.2 points per game and shoot 44.6 percent from the floor, 34.4 percent from downtown and 75.5 percent at the stripe. Creighton holds the opposition to 60.4 points per game and 41.5 percent shooting from the floor.

Southern Illinois has won 13 straight games and is 27-5 overall. Keyed by two narrow victories over Creighton during the regular-season, the Salukis won the MVC by two games with a 15-3 league mark. The Salukis feature one of the most balanced teams in the league, with big men Randal Falker and Shaw maintaining a strong presence inside. On the perimeter, MVC Player of the Year Jamaal Tatum Tony Young and Bryan Mullins can all score on the offensive end and force a steal on the defensive end. SIU averages 63.2 points per game and shoots 45.2 percent from the floor, 36.5 percent from downtown and 69.5 percent at the line. SIU surrenders just 56.1 points per game, fourth among the national leaders.

Point-Spreads.com Pick: SIU -2