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The 12th-seeded McNeese Cowboys (30-3) face off against the 5th-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs (25-7) Thursday in the 1st round of the Midwest Region. Tip from Delta Center in Salt Lake City is set for 7:25 p.m. ET (TBS). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the McNeese vs. Gonzaga odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
McNeese enters on an 11-game win streak after taking down Nicholls 92-76 Wednesday to win the Southland Tournament, while failing to cover as a 16.5-point favorite. G Shahada Wells scored a team-high 27 points, and was joined by 3 teammates in double figures. The Cowboys shot 61.4% from the field in the win.
Gonzaga, which is No. 16 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, had won 9 games in a row before falling 69-60 to Saint Mary’s in the WCC title game and failing to cover as a 3-point favorite. F Anton Watson scored a team-high 18 points, and G Ryan Nembhard (13 points, 11 rebounds) had a double-double. The Bulldogs shot 44.4% from the filed in the loss.
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McNeese vs. Gonzaga odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:10 a.m. ET,
- Moneyline (ML): McNeese +260 (bet $100 to win $260) | Gonzaga -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): McNeese +7.5 (-115) | Gonzaga -7.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 148.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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McNeese vs. Gonzaga picks and predictions
Prediction
Gonzaga 84, McNeese 81
Moneyline
PASS.
There is no value on Gonzaga (-350) to take down McNeese, however it would not be negligent to sprinkle the Cowboys (+260) moneyline. They are 30-3 this season and have been favored by 14 or more points in their last 5 games — they went 3-2 ATS in those 5 contests.
Against the spread
BET MCNEESE +7.5 (-115).
The Cowboys are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games but have been a single-digit favorite in just 1 of their last 10 games. They have a high-powered offense and a lock-down defense.
Gonzaga has failed to cover in 4 of its last 7 games including its conference final in which it lost by 9 as a 3-point favorite.
While the Bulldogs have potential in the tournament, demonstrated by a road win over Kentucky in mid-February, expect McNeese to stay in this one until the final buzzer.
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Over/Under
BET OVER 148.5 (-115).
The Cowboys have hit the Over in 3 of their last 5 games and have scored at least 76 points in each of their last 5, including scoring 81 or more in 4 times. They have scored at least 74 in 9 of their last 10.
The Bulldogs have hit the Over in 6 of their last 10, including 3 of the last 5. They have scored 86 or more points in 8 of their last 10, while giving up 69 or more in 6 of their last 10.
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