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The West Virginia Mountaineers (3-1) face the No. 4 Gonzaga Bulldogs (5-0) Wednesday at Imperial Arena in Nassau, Bahamas. Tip-off is set for 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the West Virginia vs. Gonzaga odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
West Virginia bounced back from an 86-62 road loss to the Pitt Panthers on Nov. 15 with a commanding 86-43 victory last Wednesday over the Iona Gaels. Thc Mountaineers forced 21 turnovers as they easily covering as 12.5-point home favorites while the Under 147 cashed. G Javon Small, a transfer from Oklahoma State, delivered an all-around performance with 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, and a block.
Gonzaga stayed unbeaten with an 84-41 win over Long Beach State last Wednesday, covering as a 34-point home favorite. The Bulldogs dominated defensively, forcing 16 turnovers and outscoring the Beach 36-22 in the paint. F Graham Ike and Arkansas transfer G Khalif Battle each scored 15 points to pace a balanced attack.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll
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West Virginia vs. Gonzaga 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 12:53 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): West Virginia +800 (bet $100 to win $800) | Gonzaga -1400 (bet $1,400 to win $100)
- Against the spread: West Virginia +15.5 (-115) | Gonzaga -15.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 155.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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West Virginia vs. Gonzaga picks and predictions
Prediction
Gonzaga 92, West Virginia 70
Moneyline
PASS.
Gonzaga (-1400) should get the win here, but you should never bet something with these crazy odds on the moneyline. I’ll take my wager to the spread.
Against the spread
BET GONZAGA -15.5 (-105).
I expected Gonzaga’s spread to land around 19 points, so a lower number makes them a great option here. KenPom highlights a significant gap between these teams, with Gonzaga ranked 2nd at +30.79 in adjusted efficiency margin and West Virginia sitting 73rd at +10.60—a 20.19-point difference.
The Mountaineers have failed to cover in 2 of their last 3 games, while Gonzaga is 4-1 ATS and has the nation’s third-best average margin of victory (+32.2). West Virginia is still adjusting under Darian DeVries, making it tough to back them against such a powerhouse. Take the Bulldogs to cover.
Over/Under
BET OVER 155.5 (-110).
I’m also backing the over in this neutral-site showdown. Gonzaga boasts the top-ranked offense in the country, scoring 125.7 points per 100 possessions. They’ve gone over in 3 of their last 5 games and are averaging 93.2 points per game. With no game under 80 points this season, I expect them to hit the low-90s here.
Both teams are in the top half of the country in adjusted tempo—Gonzaga 80th (70.7 possessions per 40 minutes) and West Virginia 151st (69.4). The Mountaineers average 77.5 points per game, so if they hit 70, we should easily surpass the total.
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