The third-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs will be looking for a 10th straight victory when they open the 2023 NCAA Tournament bracket on Friday in Denver against the Grand Canyon Antelopes. The ninth-ranked Bulldogs (28-5) routed Saint Mary’s 77-51 in the West Coast Conference Tournament final on March 7. They reached the Sweet 16 last year and lost to Baylor in the national title game in 2021. The 14th-seeded Antelopes (24-11) pulled upsets in the final two games of the WAC Tournament, beating Southern Utah 84-66 to win the title last Saturday. This is their second NCAA Tournament appearance in three years under coach Bryce Drew.
Tipoff at Ball Arena is set for 7:35 p.m. ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Bulldogs as 15.5-point favorites in its latest Grand Canyon vs. Gonzaga odds, and the over/under for total points scored is set at 156. Before locking in any Gonzaga vs. Grand Canyon picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and March Madness betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters the 2023 NCAA Tournament 79-53 on all-top rated college basketball picks this season, returning nearly $1,300 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has broken down the Grand Canyon vs. Gonzaga matchup and just locked in its picks and March Madness predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Gonzaga vs. Grand Canyon:
- Gonzaga vs. Grand Canyon spread: Bulldogs -15.5
- Gonzaga vs. Grand Canyon over/under: 155.5 points
- Grand Canyon vs. Gonzaga money line: Antelopes +1050, Bulldogs -2000
- GCU: The Antelopes are 11-4 ATS at neutral sites under Bryce Drew
- GON: The Bulldogs are 5-8 ATS this season when favored by 15 or more
- Gonzaga vs. Grand Canyon picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Gonzaga can cover
The Bulldogs are 13-18-1 against the spread, 3-6 ATS at neutral sites, but they have the best offense in the nation. They score 88 points per game and shoot 52.9% from the field, and both marks lead Division I. The bulk of their points come inside, but they also have excellent 3-point shooters. It all starts with two-time First Team All-American Drew Timme. The 6-foot-10 senior averages 20.9 points and 7.3 rebounds and ranks 10th in the nation in shooting percentage (62.4).
Gonzaga also ranks 17th in 3-point percentage (38.2), with Julian Strawther hitting 42.6% of his team-high 169 tries. The junior averages 15.1 points and 5.9 rebounds, and Anton Watson averages 11.3 and 5.8. Watson also averages 1.8 of the team’s 7.6 steals. Rasir Bolton, Malachi Smith and Nolan Hickman have all made at least 40 3-pointers. The Bulldogs were the nation’s second-ranked team to start the season and have lost two games since starting the season 4-3.
Why Grand Canyon can cover
The Antelopes’ only loss in their past nine was to the Seattle team they beat in the opening round of the WAC Tournament. They built a lot of confidence in their three-day run to the title, knocking off top seed Sam Houston before the rout of Southern Utah. Ray Harrison had 31 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the final. Harrison took over when star Javon Blackshear was lost for the season in January and averages 17.7 points and 3.6 assists.
The X-factor could be 6-foot-9, 250-pound enforcer Yvan Ouedraogo, who will make things uncomfortable for Timme. The junior averages 5.1 points but grabs 5.8 rebounds per game and can deflect passes and block shots. Forward Gabe McGlothan averages 12.8 points and 7.9 rebounds. Chance McMillian and Noah Baumann also will have an impact, as both shoot better than 40% on 3-pointers. Bulldogs opponents shoot 34.7% from long range (246th in the nation).
How to make Grand Canyon vs. Gonzaga picks
SportsLine’s model has scrutinized the Gonzaga vs. Grand Canyon matchup from every angle and revealed its results. It is leaning Over on the point total, with the model projecting six players will score in double figures. It also says one side of the spread is hitting in well over 60% of simulations. You can only get the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Grand Canyon vs. Gonzaga in Friday’s NCAA Tournament first round matchup? And which side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of Gonzaga vs. Grand Canyon you should be backing Friday, all from the advanced model up almost $1,300 on its top-rated college basketball picks this season, and find out.
