The Gonzaga Bulldogs remain undefeated after taking care of business in the first round, but they will face a tougher test ahead in the form of the Oklahoma Sooners. But will the Sooners be tough enough for the favorites to win it all in the 2021 March Madness? Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Oklahoma Sooners vs Gonzaga Bulldogs NCAA College Basketball Game on March 22 2021
Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
When: Monday, March 22, 2021, 2:40 PM ET
Line: Oklahoma Sooners (+14) vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs (-14) – view all 2021 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Oklahoma Sooners (+14)
Record: 16-10 Overall / 9-8 Conference
Without one of their key players in De’Vion Harmon, the Sooners still managed to pass their test in the first round by beating the Missouri Tigers, 72-68. The Sooners leaned on their defense to get them the win, as they limited Mizzou to only 37.9 percent shooting from the field. Austin Reaves and Brady Manak took care of the offense, with the two scoring 23 and 19 points, respectively. Harmon is unlikely to play and even if he does, the Sooners will still not have the firepower to keep up with Gonzaga’s world-eating offense, but the experience of Oklahoma’s leaders could be a bigger factor here than what most people think. Reaves and Manek are both seniors, with the former taking care of the backcourt duties, while the latter deals business in the frontcourt. If the Sooners can avoid turning the ball over a lot just like they did in the Mizzou game, they could hang with Gonzaga and at least have a real shot at covering the spread.
Oklahoma is 7-1 against the spread in its last eight games as an underdog.
Betting on the Gonzaga Bulldogs (-14)
Record: 27-0 Overall / 15-0 Conference
Gonzaga started its tournament schedule by mercilessly destroying the Norfolk State Spartans, 98-55. It was everything that you’d expect from a Bulldogs game. Gonzaga shot 55.7 percent from the field and went 14 of 27 from behind the arc. That efficient offense remains the same for Gonzaga and it looks ready to make Oklahoma how it feels like to get bombarded from almost anywhere on the court. The closest the Sooners have ever faced an offense like that of Gonzaga’s this season was when they got blown out by the Baylor Bears back in January. That Baylor team has a three-headed monster but Gonzaga has five starters who could go off on any given day. Jalen Suggs, Joel Ayayi, Corey Kispert, and Drew Timme form the backbone of Gonzaga’s offense that’s first in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency and tops in effective field goal percentage.
Gonzaga is 4-1 against the spread in its last five games in neutral locations.
Writer’s Prediction
Gonzaga wins, 88-70
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