UCLA vs. Gonzaga Betting Odds
Carrie Stroup here with your UCLA vs. Gonzaga betting odds courtesy of Sportsbook.ag
NCAA Tournament – Sweet 16
Sportsbook.ag Line: Gonzaga -8.5, Total: 145
UCLA and Gonzaga meet for a second time this season on Friday, but this time a spot in the Elite Eight is on the line.
UCLA has been extremely hot lately, winning six of its past seven games SU and covering in four straight. The team faced UAB last round and won 92-75 as a 5.5-point favorite. The Bruins shot 60.3% from the field in that game and also won the rebounding battle 41-26.
Gonzaga won its fifth straight game in an 87-68 victory over Iowa as a 6-point favorite last round. Over the past three games, the Bulldogs are averaging an outrageous 88.0 PPG. These two teams met at Pauley Pavilion on Dec. 13, 2014, when the Bulldogs won 87-74 as 7.5-point favorites. Gonzaga shot 58.5% from the floor in that game and won the rebounding battle 34-30. The Bulldogs are 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS when facing the Bruins since 1997 and will look to continue that strong play in this head-to-head series on Friday.
UCLA is 6-0 ATS after a game where it made 50% of its threes or better this season. It is also 6-0 ATS when revenging a loss where its opponent scored 75 or more points over the past two seasons. Gonzaga is 28-14 ATS after a combined score of 155 points or more in two straight games since 1997. UCLA comes into this game at full strength, but Gonzaga continues to be without Josh Perkins (Jaw) indefinitely.
UCLA has really played well recently, but the team now faces a whole different animal in Gonzaga. The Bruins have been a very good team offensively this season, averaging 72.0 PPG (62nd in NCAA) on 44.1% shooting (135th in NCAA). The problem with UCLA is that it has allowed 68.0 PPG (215th in NCAA) this season. The team will need to get creative in order to find ways to stop the Bulldogs Friday.
G Bryce Alford (15.6 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.2 RPG, 1,0 SPG) should be more than ready to play in this one. Alford is averaging 24.5 PPG in the tournament so far and has gone a ridiculous 12-for-16 from the outside in those two games. He is an excellent shooter and also knows when to get his teammates involved. The last time he faced Gonzaga, Alford had 23 points, three assists and three steals. He’ll need to play well in his matchup with Kevin Pangos in this one.
Gs Isaac Hamilton (10.6 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.2 APG) and Norman Powell (16.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.9 SPG) will also need to be productive in this backcourt. Hamilton provided a huge spark against UAB last round, racking up 13 points, seven assists and four boards in 37 minutes. He had 18 points the last time he faced the Bulldogs and will need to make a similar impact Friday. Powell, meanwhile, is averaging 17.0 PPG in the tournament and knows how to attack the basket with the best of them. He had 12 points in 35 minutes against Gonzaga in their last meeting and will need to continue to drive the ball towards the rim and try to draw fouls on the Bulldogs’ monstrous frontcourt.
F Kevin Looney (11.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.3 SPG) had 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals the last time he faced Gonzaga. He is very long and athletic and must use that to his advantage on Friday. C Tony Parker (11.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG) had a dominant performance last round, putting up 28 points, 12 boards and three blocks against UAB. He had just five points the last time he faced Gonzaga though and must find a way to avoid foul trouble against a much bigger player in Przemek Karnowski.
Gonzaga has been absolutely dominant on offense this season, putting up 79.1 PPG (10th in NCAA) on 52.4% shooting (1st in NCAA). The Bulldogs rebound the ball well (37.9 RPG, 30th in NCAA) and also are willing to share offensively (16.5 APG, 6th in NCAA). Defensively they are allowing just 61.5 PPG (50th in NCAA), but they can get careless at times and really let their opponents go off.
G Kevin Pangos (11.8 PPG, 4.9 APG, 2.7 RPG, 1.3 SPG) is the heart and soul of this Gonzaga team. Pangos is an unbelievable shooter (45% 3PT) and rarely turns the ball over (1.3 TOPG). He did have just nine points (3-for-9 FG, 1-for-6 3PT) the last time he faced UCLA and can’t afford to do that again here.
F Kyle Wiltjer (17.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.9 APG) is another ridiculous outside shooter (48% 3PT) for the Bulldogs. He’s averaging 23.5 PPG and 7.5 RPG in two tournament games so far and had 24 points the last time he faced UCLA. Wiltjer will need to stretch the floor against the Bruins
G Gary Bell Jr. (8.4 PPG) is an experienced member of this backcourt. He’s averaging 11.5 PPG in two tournament games so far and will need to come through in stretches when his team is cold. He has hit timely shots throughout the course of his career and will need to continue to do so with this much on the line.
C Przemek Karnowski (10.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.0 BPG) and F Domantas Sabonis (9.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG) will need to control the paint in this game. Tony Parker was hot for UCLA last round and the Bulldogs can’t let him play like that Friday. They’ll need to play well defensively and also draw fouls when they get in the paint on offense.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
