The 4th-seeded UConn Huskies (28-8) and 3rd-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs (31-5) meet Saturday in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament. Tip from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is scheduled for 8:49 p.m. ET (TBS). Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the UConn vs. Gonzaga odds as we make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The Huskies demolished 8th-seeded Arkansas 88-65 as 3.5-point favorites in the Sweet 16 Thursday. Not only is UConn a perfect 3-0 straight-up (SU) so far in the NCAA Tournament, but it is also 3-0 against the spread (ATS). That’s in part because the Huskies have been cruising on the offensive end, going for 87 or more points in 2 of the 3 games in the Big Dance.
UConn F Adama Sanogo was 9-of-11 shooting from the field vs. Arkansas, finishing with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. He is shooting a ridiculous 75.0% from the field (33 of 44) and averaging 23.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game — posting at least 18 points and 8 boards in each game — through the first 3 games of the tournament.
Gonzaga outlasted UCLA 79-76 as 1-point favorites as the Over (146.5) cashed in the Sweet 16 Thursday. It was the 1st cover in 3 NCAA Tournament games for the Zags.
The Bulldogs have been a little shaky defensively, allowing 70 or more points in tournament games against Grand Canyon, TCU and UCLA, good for an average of 75.7 points allowed per game.
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UConn vs. Gonzaga odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:58 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): UConn -140 (bet $140 to win $100) | Gonzaga +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
- Against the spread (ATS): UConn -2.5 (-105) | Gonzaga +2.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 153.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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UConn vs. Gonzaga picks and predictions
Prediction
UConn 81, Gonzaga 77
Moneyline
In this topsy-turvy NCAA Tournament, the lower seeds have been making all kinds of noise. I think it continues Saturday and that UCONN (-140) is worth a look in Las Vegas.
The difference here isn’t offense — both teams have plenty of that — but it’s that the Huskies bring a lot more to the table defensively as the Bulldogs just aren’t great at that end of the floor. Expect the Zags to have their hands full trying to contain a white-hot Sanogo, too.
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Against the spread
UCONN -2.5 (-105) is a solid play, although it should be a very close game.
The Huskies are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall and 7-1 ATS in their last 8 outings played on a neutral floor. UConn is also 7-1 ATS in the last 8 against winning teams and 19-7 ATS in the past 26 games in the NCAA Tournament, according to covers.com.
Gonzaga is a dismal 1-7 ATS in its previous 8 NCAA Tournament games, 4-12-1 ATS in its last 17 neutral-site affairs and 8-21-2 ATS in the past 31 against winning teams.
Over/Under
The OVER 153.5 (-110) is the lean in this Elite 8 tussle.
While the Under has cashed frequently for UConn, going 5-2 in the past 7 games overall, it’s been all Over all the time for Gonzaga. The Bulldogs have cashed the Over in 10 of the past 13 games, and if UConn is going to win this one, it is going to have to outproduce Gonzaga in a high-scoring battle.
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