UMKC Kangaroos vs Creighton Bluejays prediction: Turgeon's rebuilt Roos face Creighton's transfer wave in Huss debut
Kansas City brings back none of last season's minutes, so the 26.5-point spread rests on how quickly Creighton's new shooters and shot blockers come together.
| Spread | Creighton -26.5 |
|---|---|
| Total (over/under) | 155.5 |
- Creighton's size and three-point volume should control the game; the margin depends on how much a brand-new Kansas City roster can shoot with them.
- Creighton's new rim protectors, Oswin Erhunmwunse and Fredrick King, against a Kansas City rotation built almost entirely of guards.
- Creighton is favored by 26.5, unchanged since our feed first saw it, yet last season's Bluejays forced turnovers at the 347th-ranked rate, near the bottom of Division I.
Two debuts, one rebuild
Two coaches debut tonight in Omaha, and only one of them inherits anything. Alan Huss opens his first season at Creighton after Greg McDermott retired, with players back who logged 39.2% of last season's minutes. Mark Turgeon's Kansas City returns 0.0% of its minutes. Every Roo who takes the floor is new to the program.
That makes last season's numbers a weak guide for the visitors. The Roos went 4-27 and finished with an adjusted net efficiency (points per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponents) of -25.2, 356th of 365. Almost none of the players behind that figure are still here, though Summit League coaches still picked Kansas City to finish last. Creighton, 16-18 last season, was picked seventh in the Big East.
The 8 p.m. ET tip is also the earliest season start by date in Creighton program history.
Creighton finally protects the rim
Last season's Bluejays rarely changed shots at the rim. Their block rate (blocks per opponent two-point attempt) of 6.6% ranked 332nd. Huss went shopping for size.
Oswin Erhunmwunse averaged 2.1 blocks at Providence and started both exhibitions. Fredrick King, the Murray State transfer, also averaged 2.1 blocks and shot 64.8% from the floor. King has been eligible since Oct. 20 through a court case in Kentucky, but he is working back from an offseason knee injury. He missed the exhibition at Iowa State and played six minutes against Minnesota.
Kansas City's rebuild leans on guards. Unless Turgeon's newcomers can score over or around those two, the Roos will be living on jump shots.
The three-point volume question
Creighton took 48.2% of its shots from three last season, 25th-most in the country, and the new pieces fit that habit. Wes Enis attempted 304 threes at South Florida. Austin Swartz, who missed the College Basketball Crown with an ankle injury, made 38.3% of his threes last season and started both exhibitions.
Kansas City's best chance of hanging around is matching that shooting. Carl Daughtery Jr. made 42% of his threes at UC Davis, and Sebastian Hartmann hit 43.5% in a short stint at Chattanooga. Jaylen Smith, who carried a 22.1% usage rate at East Tennessee State, is the likeliest primary creator. Turgeon's group beat Montana State 64-54 in an Oct. 24 exhibition.
Creighton's lineup is still unsettled
Brody Robinson, the Oakland transfer who would be Creighton's lead guard, was still not eligible as of late October. He is pursuing eligibility through the courts, and nothing since then says he has been cleared.
Jasen Green, Creighton's top returner, came off the bench against Iowa State and then did not play against Minnesota. No reason was given. Huss said he is still evaluating which lineups work best, so tonight's rotation could look different from either exhibition.
A big number with few levers
Creighton is favored by 26.5, and that number has not moved since our feed first recorded it on Nov. 1. The total edged from 153 to 153.5. The last meeting, in November 2024, ended 79-56 for Creighton.
The Bluejays forced turnovers on 13.8% of opponent possessions, 347th nationally. Kansas City turned it over on 19.0% of its own possessions last season, 318th, but the ball handlers behind that number are gone. A cover probably has to come from Creighton's shooting and size rather than from steals.
UMKC Kangaroos vs Creighton Bluejays line movement and odds
| Book | Kangaroos ML | Bluejays ML | Kangaroos spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | +3300 | -10000 | +27.5 (-110) | o155.5 (-110) |
| BetRivers | — | — | +26.5 (-107) | o154.5 (-115) |
| DraftKings | +3500 | -20000 | +27.5 (-112) | o155.5 (-112) |
| ESPN BET | — | — | +27.5 (-110) | o155.5 (-110) |
| Fanatics | +2800 | -9000 | +27.5 (-110) | o155.5 (-110) |
| FanDuel | +5500 | -50000 | +26.5 (-102) | o154.5 (-115) |
| Hard Rock Bet | — | — | +26.5 (-105) | o154.5 (-115) |
| Caesars | — | — | +27.5 (-110) | o155.5 (-110) |
Where the money is on UMKC Kangaroos vs Creighton Bluejays
On the Kalshi moneyline: UMKC Kangaroos: 87% of bets, 8% of the money; Creighton Bluejays: 13% of bets, 93% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Creighton Bluejays -26.5: 52% of bets, 10% of the money; UMKC Kangaroos +26.5: 49% of bets, 90% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 155.5: 56% of bets, 47% of the money; Under 155.5: 44% of bets, 53% of the money.
UMKC Kangaroos vs Creighton Bluejays stats (this season)
| Stat | UMKC Kangaroos | Creighton Bluejays |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Adjusted offensive efficiency | 92.7 (360th of 365) | 116.2 (73rd of 365) |
| Adjusted defensive efficiency | 117.9 (322nd of 365) | 105.0 (96th of 365) |
| Adjusted net efficiency | -25.2 (356th of 365) | 11.2 (77th of 365) |
Key players
- Wes Enis (Creighton): He averaged 16.4 points at South Florida last season on 304 three-point attempts.
- Fredrick King (Creighton): Last season he averaged 13.1 points and 2.1 blocks while shooting 64.8% at Murray State, and he is working back from a knee injury.
- Oswin Erhunmwunse (Creighton): He pulled down 8.3 rebounds and blocked 2.1 shots per game at Providence last season.
- Austin Swartz (Creighton): He made 38.3% of his threes on 167 attempts last season and started both exhibitions.
- Jaylen Smith (Kansas City): He averaged 9.3 points and 2.8 assists with a 22.1% usage rate at East Tennessee State last season.
- Sebastian Hartmann (Kansas City): He shot 43.5% from three in seven games at Chattanooga last season.
- Carl Daughtery Jr. (Kansas City): He made 47 of 112 threes, 42%, at UC Davis last season.
Numbers that matter
| Kansas City returning minutes | 0.0% | No Roo played for the program last season, so last season's 4-27 team numbers say little about this roster. |
|---|---|---|
| Creighton spread | -26.5 | The line has not moved since our feed first recorded it on Nov. 1. |
| Creighton 3-point attempt rate, last season | 48.2% | It ranked 25th-most nationally, and the new guards fit that style. |
| Creighton block rate, last season | 6.6% | It ranked 332nd, the weakness the Erhunmwunse and King additions are meant to fix. |
| Creighton forced turnover rate, last season | 13.8% | At 347th nationally, last season's Bluejays rarely built margins with steals. |
UMKC Kangaroos vs Creighton Bluejays: quick answers
Who is favored in UMKC Kangaroos vs Creighton Bluejays?
Creighton is favored by 26.5 points (Creighton -26.5).
What is the over/under for UMKC Kangaroos vs Creighton Bluejays?
The total is 155.5 points.
When is UMKC Kangaroos vs Creighton Bluejays?
Monday, November 2, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET.
Where is UMKC Kangaroos vs Creighton Bluejays played?
CHI Health Center Omaha, Omaha, NE.
Has the line moved for UMKC Kangaroos vs Creighton Bluejays?
Yes: UMKC Kangaroos opened +28 and is now +27.5, and the total moved from 154.5 to 155.5 (consensus of the regulated US sportsbooks since we first saw the game).
Where is the money on UMKC Kangaroos vs Creighton Bluejays?
On the Kalshi moneyline: UMKC Kangaroos: 87% of bets, 8% of the money; Creighton Bluejays: 13% of bets, 93% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Creighton Bluejays -26.5: 52% of bets, 10% of the money; UMKC Kangaroos +26.5: 49% of bets, 90% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 155.5: 56% of bets, 47% of the money; Under 155.5: 44% of bets, 53% of the money.