The Portland Pilots travel to Spokane for a matchup against powerhouse Gonzaga Bulldogs. The Pilots are huge underdogs in this game, but there’s a reason why bettors should be excited about their chances to cover this weekend. As for the Bulldogs, they are certainly the favorites in this game and are expected to add another victory to their record. Check out our preview below of Portland-Gonzaga WCC showdown.
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Betting Preview for the Portland Pilots vs Gonzaga Bulldogs NCAA College Basketball Game on January 29 2022
Where: McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, WA
When: Saturday, January 29, 2022, 9:00 PM ET
Line: Portland Pilots (odds) vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs (odds) – view all 2022 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Portland Pilots (odds)
Record: 10-9 Overall/1-3 Conference
Portland absorbed another loss last Saturday, falling prey to the BYU Cougars on the road to the tune of a 78-65 score. It’s the second loss in a row for the Pilots and their third overall in WCC play. Tyler Robertson led the Pilots with 15 points, while Chris Austin had 11 points. Those two are the top scorers for Portland this season, and if the Pilots are to at least cover the spread against Gonzaga, Robertson and Austin need to be on top of their games. Austin is pacing Portland this season with 14.5 points per game, while Robertson is second with 14.0 points per outing. The Pilots are not a high-scoring team, as they put up just 70.5 points per game, but they draw lots of points from the free-throw line. Portland opponents are committing 19.9 personal fouls per game – 15th-most in the nation – which is also why the Pilots are 31st overall with 15.2 free throws made per contest. If the Pilots put one or two key Gonzaga players into foul trouble early, that should excite the Portland bettors.
Portland, which takes on the Pacific Tigers on Thursday, is 4-0 against the spread in its last four games against the Bulldogs.
Betting on the Gonzaga Bulldogs (odds)
Record: 15-2 Overall/4-0 Conference Conference
The WCC title is for the Bulldogs to lose, as usually is the case. Gonzaga stayed unbeaten in conference play after demolishing the San Francisco Dons, 78-62, at home on Jan. 20. The Bulldogs have the Loyola Marymount Lions this Thursday, but barring any miracles, Gonzaga should be able to take care of business in that game with ease. After all, the Bulldogs have two of the best players in the nation, let alone in the conference. Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren form a juggernaut frontcourt for the Bulldogs, who are averaging over 90 points per game this season, as of this writing. Moreover, the Bulldogs are second in the nation in terms of adjusted offensive efficiency, with 123.3 points per 100 possessions and No. 1 in effective field goal percentage (60.1).
Gonzaga is 10-0 straight up against the Pilots in the last 10 meetings of these teams.
Writer’s Prediction
Gonzaga wins, 74-66.
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