BYU Has More Wins At Gonzaga (3) Since 2011 Than The Rest Of The WCC Combined

So the Jazz kinda suck without Gobert huh? Let’s talk WCC basketball 👇

BYU vs. Gonzaga Preview

We’re roughly halfway through the college basketball season, and at this point, it’s fair to say we have a pretty solid understanding of each team’s true identity. In the case of #2 Gonzaga, to quote iconic NFL coach Dennis Green, they are who we thought they were 🗣

Preseason title favorites, the Zags still have the best odds to cut down the nets in April (+750). But while the Bulldogs have dominated the WCC recently, there’s a few conference opponents with the potential to cause them some trouble. One such team is the BYU Cougars, who Gonzaga hosts tonight in Spokane. Here’s how the lines are looking ahead of the clash 👇

BYU @ Gonzaga Betting Preview

• Spread: Gonzaga -14.5

• Over/Under: 153

If any WCC team has a shot at taking down Gonzaga at home this year, it’s BYU — since joining the WCC in 2011, they have more wins in Spokane than the rest of the conference combined 😳

The Zags’ Dominant Run

There are a few constants in life; death, taxes, and Gonzaga bulldozing through the WCC. Mark Few’s squad has been regular season champs for nine straight seasons, and they failed to win the conference tournament just once during that span

• The Bulldogs have won 22 straight games against WCC teams. Their last loss? Against BYU in February of 2020

• Since 2011, BYU is 3-7 in Spokane. The rest of the WCC is 2-74, with Saint Mary’s winning both of those games

Given how good the Bulldogs are once again this season, the Cougars will likely need a near-flawless performance tonight if they’re going to add another victory to that tally

• Since suffering their second loss of the season against Alabama, Gonzaga has beaten five straight opponents by at least 14 points, including a Texas Tech team that has taken down two top-six teams over the past week

• However, BYU has the talent to make things interesting; they’ve reached as high as #12 in the AP Poll this season, but a trio of losses in December, including one in OT to Utah Valley, saw them tumble out of the rankings

• To return to early season form, the Cougars need to get star guard Alex Barcello going again. The fifth-year senior is averaging 16.6 PPG this season, but just 10.3 over his past four games

Barcello has the shot-making ability to go nuclear; he has five games this season with 4+ makes from deep. With the plethora of playmakers at Gonzaga’s disposal, he’ll have to put the team on his back if BYU is going to keep this one close

Trivia question: Gonzaga has made every NCAA tournament since 1999, when they burst onto the national scene with an Elite Eight appearance as a 10-seed. Who ended their Cinderella run that year? (answer below)

Looking Elsewhere

Gonzaga-BYU’s tip-off at 11PM ET a little too late for ya? No worries, there’s some great action getting started a bit earlier in the night 👇

📍 #16 Ohio State @ #13 Wisconsin (7PM)

• Spread: Wisconsin -2.5

• Over/Under: 139

• Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis’ case for the Wooden Award gets better and better just about every time out; he’s averaging 27.3 points and 10 rebounds over the last three games, all of which were conference victories 

• After struggling in his previous two games, Ohio State star E.J. Liddell broke out of his mini slump in a big way in the Buckeyes win over Northwestern on Sunday. He finished with career-high 34 points, nailing five of seven attempts from deep

These two teams have already met this season, and the first matchup saw Ohio State cruise to a 73-55 victory. Expect that performance to be added motivation for the red-hot Badgers tonight 😈

🦆 Oregon @ #2 UCLA (9:30PM)

• Spread: UCLA -10.5

• Over/Under: 141.5

• UCLA has played just three games since December 1st due to COVID issues, but they’ve been as good as advertised when on the court this season, with their lone loss coming against Gonzaga

• Picked to finish right behind the Bruins in the PAC-12 preseason poll, this season has not gone as expected for Oregon. They opened the year ranked #13 prior to losing half of their first 12 games

The Ducks and their star guard Will Richardson have looked better during their current three-game win streak, but their resume could desperately use a statement performance. Tonight, they have that opportunity 😤

For My Parlay Gurus

200 total points were scored in Gonzaga’s last game, and I’m expecting more offensive fireworks in tonight’s matchup. I’m going with the over in Spokane and the Badgers in this parlay 👇

• BYU @ Gonzaga over 153: -110

• Wisconsin -2.5 vs. Ohio State: -110

$100 on this bet would win you $264 — if we hit, make sure to email [email protected] for $100**. First come, first serve 😉

Trivia answer: The Bulldogs fell in the Elite 8 against the eventual national champs, UConn, 67-62. Peep the final seconds here. Future 3x NBA All-Star Rip Hamilton was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player for the Huskies