Gonzaga Takes 11-Game Win Streak into BYU

Gonzaga Bulldogs at Brigham Young Cougars

Gonzaga’s Growing Greatness

Gonzaga has been a growing powerhouse in college basketball but has not yet won a national championship. Having appeared in the 2017 and 2021 title games against North Carolina and Baylor, this could be the year that they finally get over the hump and deliver a title to the Northwest. With the best odds (+600) to win March Madness, the oddsmakers share the same sentiment.

As it pertains to BYU, the Bulldogs are a -12.5 favorite over their rival. They have already beaten the Cougars 110-84 a little less than a month ago, a result that prompted head coach Mark Few to say, “We were awesome on offense tonight.”

The Bulldogs also have the on-paper matchup advantage at arguably every position, just as they do most nights they take the court.

BYU’s Under-the-Radar Resume

BYU is 17-7 and 1-1 against top-25 teams, losing the earlier clash with Gonzaga and beating No. 12 Oregon in their third game of the season. Despite three recent poor losses to the Pacific Tigers and Santa Clara Broncos, they are a formidable foe that can put points on the board, if nothing else.

Led by 17.0 points per night and 46.5% 3-point shooting from guard Alex Barcello, the Cougars have an important component of an upset team: a reliable scorer. On top of that, they are fierce on the boards and like to play with pace, often bringing the fight to their opponent rather than engaging in a chess match.

Don’t Expect Another Blowout

Gonzaga is capable of blowing out any team in America on their night, but the 26-point margin of victory it previously earned against BYU is unlikely to replicate itself. The Cougars will be playing on their home floor with the motivation of the past loss and a belief that they can still win the West Coast Conference.

The biggest problem in the Cougars’ bid at an upset will be their lack of size, with both of their primary rebounders checking in at 6-foot-6. Expect Zaga to isolate Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren on the block frequently, which will cause BYU to run double-teams at their bigs. Unfortunately for the home team, it is hard to find two better passing big-men in America.

If there is one area to look towards for hope, it is that BYU is a momentum-based team that likes to play with aggression. This can often undo superior teams that prefer to operate within their comfort zone and are not used to being called out. If the Cougars are going to successfully pull off the upset, this is exactly what they are going to need to do.

For those looking to bet online, more NCAAB betting odds are available on the BETUS sportsbook.

Pick: BYU Cougars +12.5 (-114)