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Gonzaga opened as a 13.5-point favorite against UCLA, which is the largest Final Four spread in NCAA Tournament history (dating back to 1985 when spread became widely available.)
Here are the prior three largest spreads in Final Four history:
1999 - Duke (-11) vs. Michigan State
2013 - Louisville (-10) vs. Wichita State
2016 - North Carolina (-9.5) vs. Syracuse
Gonzaga, coming into their Final Four game against UCLA, has only won once this season by less than double digits. That was one of their first games versus West Virginia. The Bulldogs remain undefeated.
The Zags had a tough time against BYU both of their meetings this season, still winning by 10 and 11 points, respectively. But all other games were victories by more than 13 points this season.
Gonzaga coach Mark Few has been attempting to deflect the talk of going and continued that trend following Tuesday's dominating 85-66 win over the USC Trojans.
"Everyone wants us to keep moving forward, but that's not how we roll," Few said. "This is a heck of an accomplishment. We're going to take it and savor it for what it is. That doesn't lessen our desire to win this game, the next game or win two more games.
"We're wise enough to know these are really, really special times. These are great accomplishments, and they need to be celebrated. That's how we're approaching it right now."
UCLA has won 11 national championships and return to the Final Four for the first time since the program's run of three straight that ended in 2008.
They also become only the second team to go from First Four to Final Four after Virginia Commonwealth did it in 2011.
- Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com
