The Gonzaga Bulldogs shoot for win no. 2 in conference play when they go up against the visiting BYU Cougars, who are on a roll. The Cougars have built quite the momentum heading into this matchup, but will that be enough? Check out our preview below of this BYU-Gonzaga WCC matchup.
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Betting Preview for the BYU Cougars vs Gonzaga Bulldogs NCAA College Basketball Game on January 13 2022
Where: McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, WA
When: Thursday, January 13, 2022, 11:00 PM ET
Line: BYU Cougars (odds) vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs (odds) – view all 2022 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the BYU Cougars (odds)
Record: 14-3 Overall / 2-0 Conference
BYU posted its fourth win in a row with a 52-43 victory against the Saint Mary’s Gaels last Saturday at home. The Cougars made just 39.3 percent of their shots from the field against St. Mary’s and bricked their way to a 7.7 percent performance from behind the arc, but made up for it with a terrific defense that held the Gaels to just 29.3 field goal percentage. Speaking of their defense, the Cougars are 16th nationally in terms of adjusted defensive efficiency with opponents scoring just 92.0 points per 100 possessions. BYU is also being kept afloat by its rebounding. The Cougars are 11th in Division I basketball with 41.4 rebounds per contest and an eighth-ranked defensive rebounding.
BYU, which also scored quality wins over the San Diego State Aztecs and the Oregon Ducks back in November, is 2-0 against the spread in its last two games.
Betting on the Gonzaga Bulldogs (odds)
Record: 12-2 Overall / 1-0 Conference
Gonzaga has picked its first conference win by destroying the Pepperdine Waves at home last Saturday to the tune of a 117-83 score. It was the Bulldogs’ fifth win in a row since losing to the Alabama Crimson Tide back in December. Although the Bulldogs have defeated minnows during their current win streak, that span included one notable victory over the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Gonzaga beat the Red Raiders on Dec. 18 convincingly, 69-55. Just like in previous seasons, the Bulldogs make their opponents sweat bullets with their offense. So far this season, the Bulldogs are second in the nation with an average of 87.9 points per game and third with an effective field goal percentage of 58.8. The duo of Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren is arguably the best frontcourt tandem in college basketball. Timme and Holmgren are averaging 16.8 and 13.4 points per game, respectively, with each star shooting over 61 percent from the field.
Gonzaga is 5-3-2 against the spread in its last 10 meetings with BYU, dating back to 2018.
Writer’s Prediction
Gonzaga wins, 84-68.
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