Taking emotion and sentiment out of the equation, there is no question that Dayton is a more important game. Completely RPI based. Has a trickle down effect for 3 games, not just 1.
Creighton will likely be a top 10 team when we play them. It's a top 10 win, but just one and at home.
Dayton gives you a top 30-40 win....but a non home game which is arguably more important. You then get UCLA and either Virginia Tech or A&M. That's 3 straight non home games against at worst top 40 type opponents.
You lose to Dayton, you are then playing at best top 100 type opponents, likely far worse the rest of the way