The Gonzaga Bulldogs (29-0) take on the USC Trojans (25-7) in the West Region Elite 8 matchup Tuesday night. The top-seeded Bulldogs and sixth-seeded Trojans will tip off at 7:15 p.m. ET at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Below, we analyze the Gonzaga-USC odds and lines, with March Madness NCAA Tournament picks and predictions.
Gonzaga has scored 89.3 points per game while allowing just 63.7 PPG in its three NCAA Tournament contests. The Bulldogs shot a blistering 59.6% from the field in their Sunday win over Creighton. They have shot 55.5% over their last 10 games.
USC has confounded expectations in getting to the doorstep its first Final Four since 1954. The Trojans have also been a sharp-shooting bunch of late; they shot 57.4% in its Sunday win against Oregon and 57.1% the game before that, March 22 vs. Kansas. In three tourney wins, the Trojans have held foes to a 32.2% mark from the floor.
Gonzaga vs. USC: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 6:35 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Gonzaga -500 (bet $500 to win $100) | USC +360 (bet $100 to win $360)
- Against the spread/ATS: Gonzaga -9 (-110) | USC +9 (-110)
- Over/Under: 153.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Gonzaga vs. USC: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Gonzaga 81, USC 74
Money line (ML)
Peg the true odds as being lost in the high grass between -500 and +360.
PASS.
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Against the spread (ATS)
Gonzaga can be had by a team that will effectively hit the offensive glass, get to the foul line and not get pushed into a shooting gallery performance with too many shots being launched from distance.
USC can answer the bell on a couple of those points but getting to the stripe enough is often problematic for the Men of Troy. The Bulldogs are not an elite team in defending near the rim and rarely play a team that can leverage that part of the game, let alone be patient enough to pull it off and/or not be chasing due to a 20-point deficit.
USC staying within two scores wouldn’t be a surprise. TAKE THE TROJANS +9 (-110).
Over/Under (O/U)
This is a clash in styles between the fast-tempo Bulldogs and slow-tempo Trojans. Both come out of leagues that fit their respective styles.
The USC offense has been efficient and it has been a while since it has had a clunker game from distance. The Over is 3-1-1 in the Trojans’ last five.
BACK THE OVER 153.5 (-110) in Tuesday’s Elite Eight contest.
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