It’s Round 2 for the top two teams in the West Coast Conference this Thursday, as the San Francisco Dons look to avenge an earlier loss to the Gonzaga Bulldogs. A win over the Bulldogs should resuscitate San Francisco’s big for an at-large berth. However, that’s going to be easier said than done, especially with the game set to take place in Spokane. Going into the matchup as 18.5-point favorites, Gonzaga also enjoys +600 odds to win the College Basketball Championship.
Betting on the San Francisco Dons (17-5 Overall / 5-3 Conference)
The Dons were a sexy pick by college basketball hipsters during the earlier portions of the season to be a Cinderella in the upcoming March Madness. Their predictions were actually looking good until San Francisco crashed in a debilitating 67-63 road loss to the San Diego Toreros on Jan. 26, which was followed by another punch-in-the-gut 86-80 loss away from home on Feb. 2 to the Saint Mary’s Gaels. At this point, all hope for an at-large berth to the national tournament is gone for San Francisco, but a win this coming Thursday against Gonzaga could at least make some in the selection committee think. It could also give them much-needed confidence should they meet Gonzaga in the tournament finals during championship week. The Dons lost to Gonzaga in the first meeting, 96-83, though, they made the Bulldogs sweat. They were tied with the Bulldogs at the half, but could not sustain their effort in the second half in which they were outscored, 59-46. San Francisco draws much of its strength from its defense that is 25th in the nation with 64.3 points allowed per game. Their offense can’t be underestimated also, as it’s 52nd on KenPom in terms of adjusted offensive efficiency.
San Francisco is 2-2 against the spread (ATS) in their last four games after a loss.
Betting on the Gonzaga Bulldogs (21-2 Overall / 8-0 Conference)
Gonzaga is a man among boys in the WCC. In their latest showcase of power in the conference, the Bulldogs thumped San Diego last Saturday at home, 85-69. Rui Hachimura was an unfair asset for the Bulldogs, as the projected lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft dropped 32 points on an efficient 11-for-15 shooting from the field on the Toreros. He also had seven rebounds and two blocks in 34 minutes. Zach Norvell Jr. played Robin to Hachimura’s Batman, as he chipped in 21 points. It was almost the same story in Gonzaga’s win over the Dons in the earlier meeting. Hachimura and Brandon Clarke flexed their muscle in the frontcourt with 24 and 21 points, respectively, while Norvell had 13. Overall, Gonzaga shot 52.2 percent from the field, showing that the Bulldogs can easily overcome whatever San Francisco’s vaunted defense throws their way. The Bulldogs, after all, are tops in the nation with 91.2 points per game on 52.7 percent field goal shooting percentage – also the best in Division I basketball today.
The Bulldogs are 10-3 ATS in 13 games as a home favorite and 5-3 ATS in conference games so far.
