Our next breakdown of the odds, picks, and prediction features this WCC showdown between the Gonzaga Bulldogs (14-3, 3-0 WCC) and BYU Cougars (13-6, 3-1 WCC) on Thursday night. Tip-off from Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, is scheduled for 9:30 pm EST and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
This is the first of two regular-season meetings between the two conference foes, with BYU set to repay the visit to Spokane in mid-February. Gonzaga has won five straight in the series, including postseason tournaments, with BYU’s last victory coming in February 2020. Continue reading for our final Gonzaga vs BYU picks.
Gonzaga vs. BYU Odds
Per the NCAAB odds, Gonzaga is a 14.5-point favorite in this game with an over/under of 152.5 points. The Bulldogs are -1450 on the moneyline, while BYU is +810. If you’re thinking ahead and considering betting on March Madness, Gonzaga is +900 to win the National Championship, while BYU is +50000.
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. BYU Cougars Game Info and Analysis
Bulldogs vs. Cougars Matchup Info
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. BYU Cougars
Location of the game: Marriott Center, Provo Utah
Date: Thursday, January 12, 9:30 pm ET
How to Watch: ESPN
Gonzaga Bulldogs Performance Recap and Analysis
This Gonzaga Bulldogs game should keep the 8th-ranked team in the country on the winning track and is only one of three NCAA basketball games today that features a ranked team. The Zags will enter this one having won nine in a row, though the last two have only been by a combined seven points.
That, along with the fact they got off to an unorthodox 5-3 start, has some wondering if the window is closing on this powerhouse program. As usual, they loaded up their non-conference NCAAB schedule with title contenders since the WCC rarely offers up much resistance to a conference title.
But this year, the Zags struggled against the upper echelon, going 2-3 against ranked opponents, though they did come out on top of their most recent challenge against Alabama on December 17. Keep reading for our Gonzaga vs BYU picks.
Key Injuries
The college basketball injury report for Gonzaga is relatively clean. The two names below are the lone players on the shelf, but neither is a key contributor.
- Joe Few (undisclosed) – out indefinitely
- Kaden Perry (back) – out indefinitely
Betting Trends to Know
- Gonzaga is 13-3 SU but only 4-11-1 ATS
- The Bulldogs are 3-1 ATS this season when scoring 100+ points
- The total has gone under in back-to-back Gonzaga games after four straight hits the over
BYU Cougars Performance Recap and Analysis
Looking at the BYU Cougars standings, they sit just a half-game back of Gonzaga in the WCC, so a win on Thursday moves them to the top spot in the conference. This will be just the third-ranked opponent the Cougars will have faced this season after splitting measuring-stick matchups with San Diego State and Creighton.
This BYU squad has its issues offensively, as their 74.5 ppg ranks 135th in the nation overall. They do boast one of the country’s more exciting college basketball players, though, in sophomore forward Fousseyni Traore. The 6’6 sophomore from Bamako, Mali, is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder and has already posted four double-doubles this season.
Key Injuries
BYU is also one of the healthier NCAA basketball teams, missing only Trevin Knell, who has yet to play this season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Betting Trends to Know
- The total has gone under in five straight BYU games and six of seven overall
- BYU is 3-1 ATS in their last four games as an underdog
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. BYU Cougars Odds
Per the NCAAB odds, Gonzaga is a 14.5-point favorite in this game with an over/under of 152.5 points. The Bulldogs are -1450 on the moneyline, while BYU is +810. If you’re thinking ahead and considering betting on March Madness, Gonzaga is +900 to win the National Championship, while BYU is +50000.
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. BYU Cougars Betting Picks
We’ve combed through the college basketball standings related to the WCC to help formulate our college basketball picks today. In the end, Gonzaga’s strengths on offense will be too much to overcome despite BYU’s strengths on defense. Their deficiencies on the offensive slide of the floor won’t allow them to keep up with the high-powered Zags. We’re not recommending a play on the total in a game where only one team can light up the scoreboard legitimately. Below is our final play for Gonzaga vs BYU picks.
Gonzaga vs. BYU Score Prediction
Gonzaga 83 BYU 66NCAAB Pick: Gonzaga – 14.5
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