The Gonzaga Bulldogs are on a collision course with Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers. Will Gonzaga roll past the Tigers? Or will Memphis send the Bulldogs crashing out of the 2022 NCAA Tournament? Check out our preview of this Gonzaga-Memphis 2022 March Madness second round game.
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Betting Preview for the Gonzaga Bulldogs vs Memphis Tigers NCAA College Basketball Game on March 19 2022
Where: Moda Center at the Rose Quarter, Portland, OR
When: Saturday, March 19, 2022, 9:40 PM ET
Line: Gonzaga Bulldogs (-9.5) vs. Memphis Tigers (+9.5) – view all 2022 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Gonzaga Bulldogs (-9.5)
Record: 27-3 Overall/13-1 Conference
Gonzaga easily survived the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, walloping the Georgia State Panthers on Thursday, 93-72. It wasn’t as much of a cakewalk as the score suggests, though, as the Bulldogs only managed to pull away from the Panthers in the second half. Nevertheless, Gonzaga is now all warmed up for what it aims to be a very deep run in this year’s March Madness. Up ahead for Gonzaga is a much tougher opponent in Penny Hardaway’s Tigers. Gonzaga surely will be relying once again on the tandem of Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren. The two giants threw their weight around in the Georgia State game, with Timme producing 32 points to go with 13 rebounds and Holmgren adding a double-double of 19 points and 17 boards. Memphis just might not have enough weapons to counter Timme nad Holmgren, and that’s not even mentioning the other excellent Gonzaga players to worry about for the Tigers like Anton Watson and Andrew Nembhard.
Gonzaga is 5-0-1 against the spread in its last six games after scoring over 90 points in the previous contest.
Betting on the Memphis Tigers (+9.5)
Record: 22-10 Overall/13-5 Conference
Hardaway’s Memphis squad took care of business in the first round as well, tajing down the Boise State Broncos to the tune of 64-53 score. The absence of Emoni Bates, who’s been out for weeks due to injury, has not exactly impacted the Tigers that much, as they have now won seven of eight games, dating back to the regular season. Against the Broncos, Memphis leaned on a collective effort from its players, led by DeAndre Williams, who finished with 14 points, while Landers Nolley II and Jalen Duren had 12 and 10 points, respectively. But it’s the Tigers’ defense that really helped the team get out of the first round, as Memphis held Boise State to just 31.5 percent shooting from the field and won the rebounding battle, 39-30. One thing the Tigers have to address quickly is ball security after turning the ball over 15 times in the Boise State game. Giving Gonzaga extra possessions is going to put more strain on Memphis’ defense, especially since the Bulldogs are exceptionally efficient with the ball. Per KenPom, Memphis is 28th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency with 93.7 points allowed per 100 possessions.
Memphis is 4-1 against the spread in its last five games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
Gonzaga wins, 81-71.
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