Bulldogs vs. Cougars Prepare For WCC Showdown

College Basketball Betting – Gonzaga vs. BYU - Prepare For A WCC Showdown

Take a break from that hockey blog for a second and head over to the college basketball section of your favorite sports site, where you should start researching Thursday’s clash in the West Coast Conference featuring Gonzaga and Brigham Young. These two are trying to keep up with Saint Mary’s, who are unbeaten in the conference, so this game takes on extra meaning.

Gonzaga BYU Odds – Thursday, 11:00 PM ET

The Bulldogs (17-3, 7-1 WCC) started their three-game stretch on the road with a 74-62 win at Portland, and sportsbook reviews would point towards a huge second half for Gonzaga, who outscored the Pilots by 16 points. Gary Bell led a balanced lineup with 18 points as four Gonzaga players reached double figures, and the Bulldogs had a huge edge at the foul line, going 25-of-31 while Portland was only 6-of-10. Super Bowl betting players would compare this to a team coaxing their opponents into too many flags, and Gonzaga took advantage of their extra opportunities. The Bulldogs have now won four in a row after losing to Saint Mary’s, and they’ve lost to the Big Ten duo of Illinois (on the road) and Michigan State. This team could scare some squads in the postseason.

The Cougars (18-6, 6-3 WCC) fell 80-66 at home to Saint Mary’s for their second loss in four games, and they were also defeated by a deficit at the foul line (the Gaels were 25-of-33, while BYU were 14-of-22), while the Cougars allowed their opponents to shoot 55.8% from the field. Matt Carlino and Noah Hartsock had 15 points apiece for the Bulldogs, who have more of a team game since Jimmer Fredette left for the NBA, and players that work with price per head software know how much a superstar means in college hoops. BYU has fallen to some good teams like the Gaels (twice), Baylor, Wisconsin and even Loyola Marymount, and that may be their ceiling without Fredette; good enough to get a solid record and into the NCAA Tournament, but they’re not scaring anyone in the top tier.

BYU should be the favorites at home, where they are 7-4 ATS, while Gonzaga is only 1-4 ATS on the road, but the Bulldogs will be out to avenge an 89-67 trouncing at the hands of BYU in last year’s Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament, when Fredette sunk 34 points. Gonzaga has a more versatile and balanced squad than BYU, and they’ll be motivated for payback after what went down in Denver last March. Even with their poor ATS record away from home, lay a little on Gonzaga on Thursday in your college basketball betting picks.