High-Scoring Bulldogs Ready for Rematch
With Gonzaga needing a late rally to top Santa Clara in the first game between the teams this season, it seems unlikely that the Bulldogs will be looking ahead to the upcoming matchup with Saint Mary’s.
Santa Clara is just 2-2 on the road and Gonzaga is 9-1 at home. Leading scorer Drew Timme is shooting 64.4% at home for the Bulldogs. Santa Clara’s top point producer Brandin Podziemski is averaging 15 points per game on the road compared to 20.5 at home.
Gonzaga leads the nation in scoring (86.3 points per game) and field-goal percentage (51.8).
The Broncos rank in the top 40 nationally in rebounding and in 3-point percentage defense.
Fourth-leading scorer Carlos Marshall Jr. continues to be sidelined with a shoulder injury for Santa Clara. He hasn’t played since mid-November. Guard Giordan Williams, who averaged more than 10 minutes per game in each of the last two seasons, has yet to play this season as he recovers from a torn ACL.
Guard Joe Few and forward Kaden Perry have yet to play this season for Gonzaga.
Gonzaga moved up two spots to No. 12 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll and remained 14th in the coaches poll.
According to the college basketball odds, Gonzaga (+2500) is tied for eighth in the odds to win the national championship. Gonzaga is priced at -110 to win the West Coast Conference title, with Santa Clara coming in at +10000.
Let’s check the latest college basketball news, stats, injury reports, and college basketball lines for Santa Clara vs Gonzaga. We’ve got plenty of NCAA basketball picks for you to consider.
Time to Tighten Things Up
There might not be a good time to face the nation’s top-scoring team. However, Santa Clara heads to Spokane to take on WCC heavyweight Gonzaga after allowing Saint Mary’s and Pacific to shoot 52.6 and 53.2% from the field, dropping the last two games.
The Broncos are usually pretty sound when it comes to defending on the perimeter. However, Pacific was 17-of-31 on 3-pointers in a 95-89 on Saturday. Not even having more offensive rebounds and committing fewer turnovers could save the Broncos.
Santa Clara limited Gonzaga to 7-of-19 shooting from 3-point range when the teams met last month and will need similar numbers to have a chance in the rematch.
Santa Clara has covered against the college basketball betting lines in seven of its last nine games and the last four meetings with Gonzaga.
Bulldogs Starting to Growl
It seems fair to say that the Jan. 19 loss to Loyola Marymount has gotten the attention of the Gonzaga star players.
In the game after that, national player of the year candidate Drew Timme went off for a career-high 38 points in a win over Pacific. Then, it was Julian Stawther’s turn to take over in Saturday’s win at Portland. He had 40 points and was 8-of-12 on 3-pointers in the 15-point win.
Bad man right there @JulianStrawther
Three No. 8. 33 points. pic.twitter.com/UVv9QsXWv8— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) January 29, 2023
Strawther averaged 11.5 points over the previous four games before he erupted for his best scoring game in his three seasons at Gonzaga.
The Bulldogs would like to get Rasir Bolton going, as he has 49 points over the last six games. The offensive struggles began when he missed nine of 13 shots in the previous meeting with Santa Clara.
Gonzaga has covered against the Las Vegas odds in just two of its last seven games.
Santa Clara vs Gonzaga Game Injuries
Santa Clara vs Gonzaga Head-to-Head
Gonzaga has won the last 25 meetings against Santa Clara.
The last nine games in the series were double-digit wins by the Bulldogs before Santa Clara threw a scare into Gonzaga in a five-point home loss on Jan. 7. Santa Clara took the lead on a Carlos Stewart jumper with 1:36 left before the Bulldogs pulled away down the stretch.
This is the 21st time in the last 22 meetings that Gonzaga is a double-digit favorite.
Santa Clara’s last win in the series came in 2011.
Santa Clara vs Gonzaga Game Information
- Game: Santa Clara (16-7, 4-4 WCC) vs Gonzaga (18-4, 7-1)
- Location: McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, WA
- Day/Time: Thursday, Feb. 2, 11:00 p.m. ET
- Santa Clara vs Gonzaga Live stream: TBS.com
Santa Clara vs Gonzaga Betting Lines
Santa Clara vs Gonzaga Picks and Prediction
One of these days, Santa Clara will end its losing streak to Gonzaga. However, this doesn’t feel like the night for that to happen.
The total has gone over in 13 of the last 18 games in the series, so perhaps that is why the number is set at 159, the highest of Thursday’s Division I men’s games. The total has gone over in five of Santa Clara’s last six games. However, a lower-scoring game would probably be in the best interest of the Broncos.
Gonzaga is 16-3 when listed by the sportsbook as the favorite. Santa Clara is just 4-5 as an underdog.
Gonzaga is listed at -1100 in our college basketball lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Bulldogs, you have a chance to win $09. Santa Clara is +700, offering a chance to win $700 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Gonzaga a 91.67% chance to win, with Santa Clara at 12.50%.
Santa Clara vs Gonzaga Trends
Santa Clara vs Gonzaga Edge
Santa Clara vs Gonzaga Results
Santa Clara vs Gonzaga Game Summary
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
