The set-up: Akron will take its 6-1 record to Creighton for a meeting with the 10th-ranked Blue Jays, who check in at 7-0. Akron comes in with six consecutive victories since losing its season opener Nov. 12 to Youngstown State. Greg McDermott has averaged 23.5 wins per season in his six prior years at Creighton and this year's team looks like it's back to NCAA tourney status, after a two-year drought.

Akron: Isaiah Johnson, a 6-10 senior center, leads the Zips in scoring (17.3 points), rebounding (6.5), assists (3.0) and steals (1.0). He was named the Savannah Invitational MVP. Johnson is joined up front by the 6-10 Cheatham (8.3 & 6.3) plus the Zips own a deep perimeter group. Jackson (10.4) and Robotham (10.1) are just barely in double digits plus three other backcourt player average just aboy 22 PPG. Akron averages 80.1 PPG and allows 62.7 but will be severely tested here by the Blue Jays.

Creighton: The Bluejays average 92.0 PPG (6th) on 54.0 percent shooting (2nd), which includes 46.5% on threes, tops in the nation! Creighton has a 7-0 redshirt freshman center in Justin Patton (13.0 & 6.4) and just how will he fare against Akron senior Isaiah Johnson? The Bluejays have excellent depth on the perimeter, led by Foster (18.3), Thomas (14.4) and PG Watson (11.7 & 8.4 APG). Foster has been a YUGE plus for the Bluejays offense after sitting out last season as a transfer from Kansas State. Justin Patton is tied for the Division I lead in field-goal percentage at 80 percent and three regular contributors, Khyri Thomas, Maurice Watson Jr. and Isaiah Zierden (4.4 PPG) all shoot at least 50 percent beyond the arc.

The pick: Akron is a quality team but winning here at CenturyLink Center is a little too much to ask. So is covering the number. Lay the points and make Creighton a 10* play.