The Gonzaga Bulldogs and Grand Canyon Lopes get together for the first time on a pretty big stage on Friday, the opening round of the NCAA tournament. The Zags are the third seed in the West Region and are 38-22 in the bracket under the tutelage of head coach Mark Few.
Let’s learn a bit about both teams in the NCAA March Madness bracket before making our Grand Canyon vs Gonzaga prediction.
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Grand Canyon Odds
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Grand Canyon Lopes Information
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs Grand Canyon Lopes
Location: Ball Arena, Denver, CO.
Date and Time: March 17, 2023, 7:35 p.m. ET.
How to Watch: truTV | https://livestreamsports.co/
Updates for Gonzaga Bulldogs and Grand Canyon Lopes
Gonzaga is tops in the country, putting up 87.5 points per game and shooting 52.9% from the floor. The team is first in effective field goal percentage (.592) and the best in KenPom’s ratings in offensive efficiency, too.
Drew Timme has made the second-most field goals (272) in the nation and is eighth with 689 points. His 20.9 points per game grade out in the country’s top 15. Timme and Anton Watson are first and second in the WCC in field goal percentage at 62.4 and 61.4, respectively.
Drew Timme was named the WCC Player of the Year for the second go-round in a row, while Malachi Smith was tabbed as the Sixth Man of the Year. Timme and Julian Strawther earned first-team All-WCC laurels.
Grand Canyon Defies Odds
Meanwhile, the Lopes claimed the Western Athletic Conference crown Saturday, downing third-seeded Southern Utat, 84-66. Grand Canyon was the fifth seed.
Ray Harrison earned the tournament’s Most Oustanding Player award after leading the Lopes with a game-high 31 points. He went 5 of 7 from beyond the arc and added another eight rebounds and eight assists.
Gabe McGlothan bucketed 21 points and Noah Baumann 16 — including five treys. Grand Canyon made a total of 13 threes and had 23 assists on its 30 made shots from the field.
Ray Harrison is good for 17.7 points and 3.6 assists per game. Ray is third in the WAC in scoring. Gabe McGlothan adds 12.8 points and a team-best 7.7 rebounds per outing, which is second in the WAC. Chance McMillan is scoring 10.7 points each time out, rounding out the pertinent Lopes college basketball players stats.
We can’t make our Grand Canyon vs Gonzaga prediction without first checking in on the lines.
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Grand Canyon Lopes Betting Preview
Moneyline
Grand Canyon is -105 to cover and a +810 underdog. Gonzaga is -1450 on the moneyline. The total is set at 156.5 points, with both the over and the under listed at -110.
Spread
Gonzaga enters this matchup as a pretty heavy favorite on the NCAAB odds. The Zags are on the right side of a 14.5-point spread, with -115 odds.
Make sure to check if the college basketball injury report has changed before you wager.
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Grand Canyon Lopes Betting Prediction
Gonzaga has won in the first round of each of the last 13 tournaments, joining Kansas (15) as the only other program to do so. Only the Zags have made the last seven Sweet 16 rounds, as no other NCAA basketball teams have done so.
Now, for our March Madness bets.
Gonzaga has been a powerhouse on this stage and is primed to make another run. The Zags locked up their 16th consecutive 25-win campaign on the NCAAB schedule — an NCAA Div. I record. They’re among the teams with the best odds to win March Madness and finished favorably in the college basketball standings.
With today’s Grand Canyon vs Gonzaga prediction, take the Zags to cover the spread and continue their dominance. Add that to your college basketball picks for Friday, and watch some NCAA basketball games today.
Betting on this event:
When making your final pick, take the Gonzaga to cover the spread at -115.
If you love sports and want more sports betting information follow us as @InsidersBetDig on Twitter and sign up to our mailing list for free betting picks.