Overview
Gonzaga and Arkansas didn’t score many style points on their respective ways to the Sweet 16. Betting on March Madness often requires teams to escape in one or two rounds on the way to the title.
For the No. 1 overall seed Bulldogs, they hope they escaped their big scare in the first half against Memphis in the last round. Gonzaga trailed by double digits at halftime against the Tigers before rallying with an offensive explosion in the second half.
Arkansas’ road to a second straight Sweet 16 hasn’t been an easy road to hoe either. Despite playing against two mid-major schools who were double-digit seeds, the Razorbacks had uneasy moments in both games.
Arkansas advanced by beating Vermont and New Mexico State, champions of the America East and Western Athletic Conference, respectively, to earn a shot at Gonzaga.
Sports betting guides have shown these matchups have recently favored Gonzaga, which is hoping to win and set up a showdown with Texas Tech or Duke in the Elite 8.
Last games records
Arkansas beat New Mexico State 53-48 March 19. The Razorbacks are 27-8. Gonzaga beat Memphis 82-78. The Bulldogs are 28-3.
Matchup Information
Arkansas at Gonzaga Betting Analysis
Arkansas Razorbacks Betting Analysis
Betting guides show this is Arkansas’ first time playing in San Francisco since 1948. However, during the SEC and NCAA Tournament so far, the Razorbacks have shown playing in the unfamiliar territory doesn’t phase them. Arkansas has shot 81.2 percent (155 of 191) from the free-throw line in its past five games.
The Razorbacks are at their best when they pound the glass, compiling a 19-3 record this season when they out rebound their opponents. Arkansas is a team that doesn’t shoot particularly well from the outside but needs to push the pace. The Razorbacks are only 5-4 this season in games where they scored fewer than 70 points.
JD Notae has been the engine driving Arkansas, averaging 18.4 points per game. Stanley Umude, who averages 12.0 points per game, is the Razorbacks’ top outside shooting threat, knocking down 37 percent of his 3-pointers. Arkansas’ field goal percentage defense is ranked 47th nationally, limiting their opponents to 40.9 percent shooting from the field.
Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Analysis
When things are going right for Gonzaga, the Bulldogs’ have the most spectacular offense in the country. Gonzaga averages 87.8 points per game, led by senior Drew Timme, who leads the team by averaging 18.2 points per game. When things looked bleak against Memphis in the last round, Timme pulled the Bulldogs out of the fire.
Timme scored 25 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and handed out four assists to help Gonzaga rally for a victory. But Timme is only one of five players Gonzaga has who scores in double figures. Chet Holmgren, who is projected to be a top 10 pick in the upcoming NBA draft, averages 14.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
The Bulldogs shoot 37.4 percent from the outside and knock down an average of 8.3 3-pointers per game. Rasir Bolton, who averages 11.3 points per game, has made 47 percent of his treys for the season.
Updates
Neither team has any recent injuries of note.
- Arkansas is 20-15 against the spread.
- Gonzaga is 15-14-2 against the spread.
- The over has a record of 21-14 against the total in the Razorbacks’ games.
- The over has a record of 14-17 against the total in the Bulldogs’ games.
- Arkansas is 16-10 against the spread following a win.
- Gonzaga is 14-10-1 against the spread following a win.
Arkansas at Gonzaga Betting Preview
March Madness betting odds have Gonzaga as a nine-point favorite over Arkansas. March Madness bets can also be made on the over/under, which is set at 154.5 points.
Arkansas at Gonzaga Betting Prediction
Neither team is shy about running. Both teams have played in games where they were probably uneasy about the margin of victory at the end of the game.
The question for this contest is what the team learned the most about themselves and will be able to apply it on the biggest stage. Neither team is lacking in experience.
The Bulldogs have been one of the top five programs in the country over the past ten years, while Arkansas appears to be headed on the trajectory.
This Gonzaga team is on a mission to show that it can win a title while playing out of the West Coast Conference. The Bulldogs are winning this contest, but the Razorbacks will have enough juice to keep this close and cover the spread.
Bet on Arkansas +9.
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