South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Free Pick - Betting Odds - Point Spread Prediction
Date:
April 1, 6:09 pm
Location:
University of Phoenix Stadium
TV:
CBS
Betting Odds
Point Spread:
Gonzaga -6.5
Total:
138
<p>
The 7th seed from the East Region South Carolina Gamecocks face the top seed from the West Region Gonzaga Bulldogs in a Final Four NCAA Tournament game that will take place at a neutral site at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday, April 1 at 6:09 PM ET. This match hit the board with the Zags as a large -6.5 point spread favorite over South Carolina with the total line being offered at 138.5 points.
</p>
<p>
South Carolina has won 26 of their 36 games on the season and they have an ATS record of 15-16-2 in the 33 games that have had a posted line. Gonzaga has won 36 of their 37 games this season and they have an ATS record of 23-9-2 in the 34 games that have had a posted line.
</p>
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<p>
South Carolina is coming off a 77-70 win over Florida in the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament where they covered the spread as a 3-point underdog. The total number of points scored in the game was 147, which was over the closing line of 136. The Gamecocks have covered the spread in their last four games and in three of their last four games the total has gone over. South Carolina had lost their last two games of the regular season before winning four in a row in the NCAA Tournament.
</p>
<p>
Gonzaga is coming off an 83-59 blowout win over Xavier in the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament where they easily got the money as a - 8.5 point spread favorite. The total number of points scored in the game was 144, which fell just short of the closing line of 144.5. Previous to the Xavier game the Bulldogs had failed to cover the spread in three consecutive matches and in four of their last five games, including their last two, the total had gone UNDER. Gonzaga is riding a seven game win streak.
</p>
<p>
Offensively, South Carolina is putting up 72.68 points per game on a 41.59% FG average. On the defensive side of things the Gamecocks are allowing 64.48 PPG on a 39.65% FG average, which ranks 15th in the nation.
</p>
<p>
Gonzaga is putting up 83.2 points per game, which ranks 14th in the nation, on a 50.9% FG average, which ranks 2nd in the nation. On defense the Bulldogs are allowing 60.9 points per game, which ranks 4th in the nation, on a 36.4% FG average, which ranks 2nd in the nation.
</p>
<p>
This will be the first ever meeting between these teams.
</p>
<h2>
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Trends<br />
</h2>
<ul>
<li>
South Carolina is 1-6-1 against the spread in their last 8 Saturday games.
</li>
<li>
The game total has gone under in 9 of the Gamecocks last 12 non-conference games.
</li>
<li>
Gonzaga is 12-4 against the spread in their last 16 Saturday games.
</li>
<li>
The game total has gone under in 15 of the Bulldogs last 21 Saturday games.
</li>
</ul>
<h2>
Public Money Consensus<br />
</h2>
<p>
In this Final Four matchup between South Carolina and Gonzaga have the public leaning slightly to the Gamecocks getting the 6.5 points with 62%. The over/under bettors are banking on this game going over the posted total line of 138 with 56% on board.
</p>
South Carolina Gamecocks vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Prediction
A fellow capper told me that Gonzaga’ defensive numbers are skewed because of their weak conference schedule and that their defense just isn’t that strong. I don’t agree entirely. Sure their conference scoring defense was brilliant allowing 59.33 points per game and that the number fell in non-conference games, but the key stat to me is the opponent’s scoring versus their seasonal average. The Zags played 11 games on a neutral court and their opponents in those games scored under their seasonal average in 9 of the 11 contests and in the two that an opponent scored over their average it was by extremely low margin with Santa Clara surpassing their scoring average by 1.2 points and Northwestern by 1.9. South Carolina has also been fantastic defensively on neutral courts, so I will call that a draw. The big edge in this match is on offense. The Zags have the second best FG% in the nation hitting 50.9 percent from the field and are a very respectable 59th from behind the arc and if the Gamecocks have a weakness on defense it is defending the three. It’s a big line for what is expected to be a low scoring game, but I don’t believe the pressure defense of South Carolina will work against them similar to their fail against Duke and Gonzaga has the defense to keep most teams in the low 60’s.
Free Pick:
Take Gonzaga -6.5
