The (14-3 SU, 4-11-1 ATS) Gonzaga Bulldogs and (13-6 SU, 9-8 ATS) BYU Cougars are set to take the court on Thursday at the Marriott Center. The Bulldogs, 2-1 on the road this season, beat Santa Clara in their last game. The Cougars, 8-1 at home, beat San Diego on Saturday.
Gonzaga won both meetings with Brigham Young last season. The Bulldogs are 22-7 all-time versus the Cougars.
Tip-off from Provo, UT, is at 9:30 p.m. ET. Gonzaga is a 6.5-point spread favorite, and the game total is 149.5 points.
The Bulldogs are one of the nation's elite teams, but at 4-11-1, they've been unprofitable for ATS backers this season. The Zags ran the gauntlet in non-conference competition, taking on Michigan State, Texas, Kentucky, Purdue, Xavier, Baylor, Washington, and Alabama. If that doesn't prepare a team for March Madness, nothing will.
Gonzaga is on a nine-game win streak following Saturday's road win at Santa Clara. The Zags trailed 37-36 at halftime but rallied after the break, outscoring the Broncos 45-39. Gonzaga certainly got Santa Clara's best shot. The Broncos narrowly outshot the Bulldogs with a 47.2 FG%, held their own the glass (39-39), and recorded 16 assists. They even led by as many as 14 points. It will take a better effort against BYU for Gonzaga to pick up its tenth-straight win.
Bolton been ballin' ?? @r asir_45 pic.twitter.com/e6HhlY6yav
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) January 10, 2023
The Bulldogs score 85.9 points, the fifth-highest PPG average in the country. They boast the nation's highest field goal percentage (51.8%) and the 35th-highest three-point percentage (38.0%). Gonzaga's schedule-adjusted offensive efficiency rating is fourth-best, per KenPom.
Senior forward Drew Timme paces the Zags, averaging 21.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. Gonzaga also counts on solid play from junior guard Julian Strawther (13.9 PPG and 7.3 RPG), senior guard Rasir Bolton (11.3 PPG), and senior forward Anton Watson (9.5 PPG and 5.1 RPG).
The Bulldogs surrender 72.9 points on 44.0 percent shooting, including 32.4 percent from distance. Their rebounding margin is positive (+4.8), and their assist-per-turnover ratio (1.33) is 40th-best in D-1. Gonzaga's defensive efficiency rating is ranked 73rd.