The fourth-seeded Florida State Seminoles collide with the West Region’s top-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Sweet 16. Florida State topped Vermont and Murray State en route to its Sweet 16 berth, while Gonzaga bested Fairleigh Dickinson and Baylor to stand across from FSU. The Seminoles earned a 75-60 win over the Bulldogs in last year’s Sweet 16 but are 6.5-point underdogs in this game with the total Sportsbook at 148 points.
Florida State vs Gonzaga Game Center
Standout Stats
- Both teams have been scorching hot down the stretch. Florida State is 8-1 SU and 4-5 ATS in its last nine games, with its only defeat over that span coming against Duke in the ACC tournament final. Meanwhile, Gonzaga is 23-1 SU and 15-9 ATS in its last 24 contests and its only loss during this hot streak came against Saint Mary’s in the WCC tournament final.
- The OVER has been the better play to make for both of these teams recently, with five of Gonzaga’s last eight games and four of Florida State’s last seven going OVER. However, over the Seminoles’ last seven contests, only one has gone OVER 148 points, while five of the Bulldogs’ last eight have gone OVER 148 points.
- Gonzaga and Florida State have been able to fill the basket frequently this season as the Bulldogs lead the nation with 88.6 points per game and the Seminoles chip in 75.4 ppg. The Zags also have the slight edge defensively, limiting their foes to 64.8 ppg while FSU holds its opponents to 67 ppg. All signs point to Gonzaga, but it has had the 82nd-ranked strength of schedule compared to Florida State’s 24th-toughest SOS.
- The two teams have a very similar offensive approach in getting the ball inside the arc for their points, but Florida State does elect to shoot the three a little more frequently. Gonzaga leads the nation with a 62.2 shooting percentage from two-point range, while FSU hits 50.9 percent from two-point range. Both teams are great defensively inside the arc with the Bulldogs’ foes shooting 43.1 percent from two-point range and the Seminoles’ opponents shooting 45.5 percent from the same area.
- With both teams being strong inside the arc, it should come as no surprise that they are also great on the glass as Florida State secures 37.6 rebounds per game and Gonzaga is slightly better with 38.9 boards per game. The edge goes to the Bulldogs in overall ball possession as well as they average just 10.4 giveaways per game, while the Seminoles commit 13.3 turnovers per game.
My Best Bet for Florida State vs Gonzaga
Gonzaga -6.5
The Bulldogs have the advantage in nearly every aspect of the game over the Seminoles. Both teams are going to be trying to accomplish the same goal by getting the ball inside the arc to pile on their points, but Gonzaga does it at a much better rate than Florida State.
Gonzaga is 23-1 SU and 15-9 ATS in its last 24 games.home Gonzaga scores the most points per game in the nation this season (88.6).home The total has gone OVER in four of Florida State’s last seven games.away
