BYU Cougars vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Predictions, Picks, Odds, and NCAA Basketball Betting Preview – January 18 2020

The No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs are toying with the rest of the West Coast Conference for the most part since the start of conference play. But they can’t be too confident in their chances when they take on the hot-shooting BYU Cougars, who can light it up on offense. Gonzaga and BYU are +800 and +75000 to win the national title, respectively.

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Betting Preview for the BYU Cougars vs Gonzaga Bulldogs NCAA College Basketball Game on January 18 2020

Where: McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane

When: Saturday, January 18, 2020, 10:00 PM ET

Line: BYU Cougars (Odds) vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs (Odds) – view all 2019-20 NCAAB lines

TV Broadcast: ESPN

Betting on the BYU Cougars (13-5 Overall/2-1 Conference)

The Cougars made it rain the last time they were on the court, as of this writing. In their 96-70 win at home over the Portland Pilots last Saturday, the Cougars drilled in 15 of their 30 attempts from behind the arc. Guard Zac Seljaas led the way for the Cougars with 21 points while also going 5 for 5 from deep off the bench. All of BYU’s starters scored in double figures. This is a team that can flat out score and could get hot quick. The Cougars are ranked 27th on KenPom and are positioned on the 33rd place on the current NET rankings. Outside shooting is an undeniable weapon for BYU, which is averaging 77.2 points per game. The Cougars are sixth in the nation with a 39.6 percent shooting from long range and eighth with 10.2 triples per game.

The Cougars, who have a date with the San Diego Toreros this Friday at home, are 5-4-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last 10 road games.

Betting on the Gonzaga Bulldogs (18-1 Overall / 4-0 Conference)

Another game, another win for the Bulldogs, who extended their win streak to 10 games after beating the Loyola Marymount Lions last Saturday on the road, 87-62.  Filip Petrusev scored a team-high 16 points with four 3-pointers and seven rebounds, while three other players scored in double figures. Out of the 31 field goals Gonzaga made, 20 were assisted. That’s just the way Gonzaga plays basketball — unselfish and efficient. Gonzaga is tops in the nation with 87.8 points per game, second in effective field goal percentage (56.7%), third in shooting percentage (50.2%), and third in assists per game (18.2). Gonzaga knows BYU can shoot the air out of the ball, but the Bulldogs will look to capitalize on their superior rebounding. Gonzaga is pulling down 41.3 rebounds per game to just 34.1 by the Cougars.

The Bulldogs are 4-0 ATS against BYU, dating back to 2018.

Writer’s Prediction

Gonzaga wins, 80-70.

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