The Villanova Wildcats, boasting a 19-5 overall record and a 10-3 mark in the Big East, travel to the CHI Health Center Omaha to face the Creighton Bluejays, who are 13-12 overall and 7-7 in conference play. This matchup holds real consequences for both teams, particularly for Creighton, which is currently ranked 80th in the NET rankings and needs to bolster its resume with quality wins. With a quad record of 1-7 in Quad 1 games, 3-4 in Quad 2 games, and 4-1 in Quad 3 games, the Bluejays must capitalize on opportunities like this to improve their tournament chances. Villanova, on the other hand, is ranked 32nd in the NET rankings and has a strong quad record, with 3-4 in Quad 1 games, 4-0 in Quad 2 games, and 8-1 in Quad 3 games.
Villanova Wildcats Have Dominated Creighton Bluejays in Recent Matchups, Winning 7 of Last 10 Meetings
The game is scheduled for February 14, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET at the CHI Health Center Omaha and will be broadcast on FS1.
The Villanova Wildcats have been consistent this season, with a 19-5 record and a 10-3 mark in the Big East. They have won 4 of their last 5 games, with their only loss coming in their most recent outing. Villanova's offense has been potent, averaging 77.4 points per game, while their defense has been solid, allowing 68.2 points per game. The Wildcats have a strong NET ranking of 32 and a favorable quad record, which positions them well for a top-4 seed in the tournament. With 3 Quad 1 wins and 4 Quad 2 wins, Villanova has demonstrated its ability to perform against tough competition.
The Creighton Bluejays have experienced a rollercoaster season, with a 13-12 overall record and a 7-7 mark in the Big East. They have lost 4 of their last 5 games, including their most recent outing. Creighton's offense has been decent, averaging 73.1 points per game, while their defense has struggled, allowing 72.5 points per game. The Bluejays' NET ranking of 80 and quad record of 1-7 in Quad 1 games and 3-4 in Quad 2 games indicate that they need to step up their performance against top-tier opponents. With 4 wins in Quad 3 games and 5 wins in Quad 4 games, Creighton has shown it can dominate lesser competition, but it must prove itself against teams like Villanova to strengthen its tournament resume.
The matchup between Villanova and Creighton will be an intriguing one, with the Wildcats' high-powered offense facing the Bluejays' desperate defense. Villanova averages 77.4 points per game, while Creighton allows 72.5 points per game. The Bluejays must find a way to slow down the Wildcats' offense, which has scored 80 or more points in 5 of their last 10 games. On the other hand, Villanova's defense want to exploit Creighton's struggling offense, which has scored fewer than 70 points in 3 of their last 5 games. The pace of the game will also be a factor, as Villanova averages 69.1 possessions per game, while Creighton averages 67.4 possessions per game. With Villanova's offense ranking 15th in the nation in adjusted efficiency and Creighton's defense ranking 120th, the Wildcats have a significant statistical edge in this matchup.
CHD Scout Prediction
Villanova
78
Creighton
71
For Villanova, players like Justin Moore and Caleb Daniels have been instrumental in the team's success. Moore is averaging 15.6 points per game, while Daniels is averaging 13.4 points per game. Both players have been hot lately, with Moore scoring 20 or more points in 3 of his last 5 games and Daniels scoring 15 or more points in 4 of his last 5 games. For Creighton, players like Ryan Nembhard and Baylor Scheierman have been key contributors. Nembhard is averaging 12.1 points per game, while Scheierman is averaging 11.5 points per game. However, both players have been cold lately, with Nembhard scoring fewer than 10 points in 2 of his last 3 games and Scheierman scoring fewer than 10 points in 3 of his last 5 games.
The CHD Scout prediction favors Villanova, with a predicted score of 78-71 and a win probability of 73.9% for the Wildcats. This prediction is based on Villanova's strong offense and Creighton's struggling defense, as well as the Wildcats' favorable quad record and NET ranking. With a margin of -7.4 points, the CHD Scout prediction suggests that Villanova will win by a comfortable margin, although Creighton's desperation to boost its tournament resume could lead to a closer game.
This game has real consequences for both teams, particularly for Creighton. A win over Villanova would be a major boost to the Bluejays' tournament resume, as it would be their second Quad 1 win of the season. On the other hand, a loss would drop Creighton to 1-8 in Quad 1 games and make it even more difficult for them to secure a tournament bid. For Villanova, a win would solidify their position as a top-4 seed, while a loss would drop them to 3-5 in Quad 1 games and potentially impact their seeding.