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The No. 9 Gonzaga Bulldogs (7-2) face the No. 20 UConn Huskies (7-3) in the Hall of Fame Series Saturday. Tip-off from Madison Square Garden in New York City is set for 8 p.m. ET (FOX). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Gonzaga vs. UConn odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
Gonzaga’s 2-game win streak came to an end Saturday in a tough 90-89 overtime loss to No. 5 Kentucky. The Bulldogs, favored by 6.5 points, let an 18-point second-half lead slip away. The Over (167) hit with ease in this high-scoring battle. F Graham Ike led the charge for Gonzaga, dropping 28 points, grabbing 11 boards, and dishing out 4 assists.
UConn made it 3 wins in a row Sunday, taking down Texas 76-65 as a 1.5-point road underdog. The total (141) pushed. The Huskies owned the paint, outrebounding Texas 39-25 and outscoring it 38-18 down low. F Alex Karaban did it all for UConn, racking up 21 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll
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Gonzaga vs. UConn odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college basketball odds. Lines last updated at 2:20 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Gonzaga -160 (bet $160 to win $100) | UConn +135 (bet $100 to win $135)
- Against the spread (ATS): Gonzaga -2.5 (-115) | UConn +2.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 152.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Gonzaga vs. UConn picks and predictions
Prediction
UConn 75, Gonzaga 71
Moneyline
BET UCONN (+135).
Getting UConn at plus money in Madison Square Garden feels like a gift. The 2-time defending champs may not be as dominant as in recent years, but they thrive under the NYC lights. Plus, UConn has won the last 2 meetings against Gonzaga, both in 2023.
Gonzaga leans heavily on Ike, who’s been terrific inside, but it lacks perimeter balance, shooting just 33.7% from 3 (165th nationally). UConn’s defense, which allows only 64.3 points per game (26th in the nation), will zero in on Ike and force others to step up.
With momentum from wins over Baylor and Texas — and Karaban back — UConn looks sharp. Hosting essentially a home crowd, the Huskies are in a prime spot to outlast Gonzaga, who’ll face a tough test traveling cross-country.
Against the spread
PASS.
No real advantage taking UConn getting the 2.5 when I get the plus odds on the moneyline.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 152.5 (-110).
All signs point to betting the Over; Gonzaga has hit the Over in 4 straight games, and UConn is 5-0-1 to the Over in its last 6. However, these teams met twice in 2023, and both games went under totals set in the 150s.
This matchup features contrasting tempos: Gonzaga ranks 45th in pace of play, while UConn grinds at 286th. The Huskies will work to slow the game into a half-court battle, forcing the Bulldogs to adjust.
UConn’s defense and Gonzaga’s struggles from deep make this a heavy lean towards the Under. The Huskies will dictate the flow, and it’s hard to see a high-scoring shootout under these conditions.
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