Gonzaga vs BYU Betting Odds

Can No. 4 Gonzaga Cover the Large Spread at BYU?

The No. 4 Gonzaga Bulldogs conclude their three-game road swing by paying a visit to the Marriott Center to tip off against the BYU Cougars. Since dropping back-to-back games in mid-December, Gonzaga has rattled off 10 straight wins, while BYU has picked up victories in four of its last five contests. The Bulldogs has won each of the last three meetings with the Cougars and are a 14-point favorite in tonight’s game with the total Sportsbook at 166 points.

Shark Bites
  • Gonzaga is 10-0 SU and 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games.
  • The total has gone UNDER in eight of Gonzaga’s last 10 games.
  • Gonzaga scores the most points per game in the nation this season (91.4).

Gonzaga vs BYU Game Center

Bulldogs look to continue flexing their offensive muscles

It has been a season of streaks for Gonzaga thus far, kicking the year off with nine straight wins and, following back-to-back defeats, entering tonight’s contest on a 10-game winning streak. Included in the Bulldogs’ season-Sportsbook win streak was an 89-87 triumph in the Maui Invitational over then-No. 1 Duke. Their two losses came against ranked teams, a three-point setback in the Air Force Reserve Classic vs then-No. 7 Tennessee and at the Dean E. Smith Center vs then-No. 12 North Carolina.

There have been no issues offensively this year for Gonzaga, which leads the nation with 91.4 points per game and averages 90.3 on the road. The Bulldogs get most of their scoring from inside the arc, averaging 48 points per game from two-point range, where they are shooting an astounding 62 percent. However, if teams load up the key and abandon the arc, the Zags shoot 36.6 percent from downtown to rate 69th in the nation.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs allow just 66.3 points per game, the No. 41 mark in the nation, but that average skyrockets to 77.6 in road contests. Gonzaga does a good job limiting teams from beyond the arc, surrendering just 20 points per game from downtown to rank 69th in college basketball, but it gives up an average of 61.8 shots per game (309th).

Cougars’ defense has been a disaster this year

BYU contests the second of its three-game homestand, looking to pick up back-to-back wins after claiming a 71-66 victory over visiting Saint Mary’s last Friday. This is the third ranked opponent the Cougars have tipped off against this season. They dropped the first two games, at then-No. 7 Nevada in their season opener and at then-No. 19 Mississippi State at the end of December.

Scoring hasn’t been much of a difficulty for the Cougars this year as they rank 18th in college basketball with 82 points per game, but that has dropped to 76.57 ppg through its seven WCC games. They have failed to top 80 points in four of their seven conference games, compared to not reaching 80 points just four times through their 15 non-conference contests. BYU struggles from three-point range, shooting just 32.2 percent from downtown (263rd), but ranks 12th by hitting 56.7 percent of its shots inside the arc.

Keeping points off the board has been an issue, though, as the Cougars give up an average of 77.8 points per game, the 61st-most in the nation. However, since conference play has begun, they have done a better job defensively, allowing just 72.86 ppg. The biggest area of concern is stopping teams beyond the arc, as they are surrendering 24.5 points per game from three-point range to rank 236th and they are rated 245th in opponent three-point percentage.

Should you be on the OVER tonight?

Gonzaga and BYU rank in the top 20 in scoring and Sportsbook has tonight’s total Sportsbook at 166 points. The Cougars have gone OVER in five of their last 10 games, but only four games went OVER 166 points. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have been UNDER machines recently, with only one of their last 10 contests going OVER 166 points.

BYU’s defense has been an area of concern this year and now it has to figure out a way to slow down Gonzaga’s top-ranked offense. I think both teams are going to have ample opportunity to rack up points tonight, but I’m not sure if they will reach 166 points. If I were to make a choice, I would be on the OVER, though.

My take on Gonzaga vs BYU

I like Gonzaga to cover the 14-point spread. I think the line is really good, but I’m going with my gut on this one. The Bulldogs have been a great spread bet, going 8-2 ATS over their 10-game winning streak with an average winning margin of 37.5 and with only one game being settled by fewer than 18 points.

Meanwhile, the Cougars have gone 5-5 SU and just 3-7 ATS over their last 10 games with an average losing margin of 14.8. When they lose, they lose big, as six of their nine defeats on the season have been by double-digit margins. Gonzaga’s offense primarily comes from two-point range, racking up the second-most ppg from that area in the nation. BYU ranks 230th in opponent ppg from two-point range and its offense has slowed since conference play began.

Gonzaga is 10-0 SU and 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games.away The total has gone UNDER in eight of Gonzaga’s last 10 games.away Gonzaga scores the most points per game in the nation this season (91.4).away
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