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A major litmus test awaits the unranked BYU Cougars Wednesday night in Mormon Country when the No. 8 ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs storm the Marriott Center looking to move to 4-0 in West Coast Conference play. Mark Few’s kids enter this tilt a bit road weary with their last two games coming away from “The Kennel” against San Francisco and Santa Clara. As for BYU, it too enters this game in the upper tier of the WCC standings after getting out to a 3-1 start with the lone defeat coming on the road against Loyola Marymount. This however is a major step up in class for the Coogs who haven’t had to face a top-50 ranked KenPom opponent since disposing of Utah in the middle of December. Mark Pope has amassed just one win against the Zags throughout his four-year stay in Provo, and I don’t foresee his kids having enough firepower to contend with them in the first of two scheduled meetings either.
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. BYU Cougars
Date and Time: Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 9:30 PM EST
Location: Marriott Center, Provo, Utah
TV Coverage: ESPN
Betting Info
PointsBet Sportsbook had the Bulldogs laying double-digits in each of their last two treks to the Marriott Center. That likely won’t be the case on Thursday night when the teams lock horns in front of a nationally televised audience. Not with Gonzaga looking a bit more susceptible this season with it already dropping three games and being taken to the limit by both San Francisco and Santa Clara in the first two stops of this extended three-game road trip. While 3-0 in WCC play, the Zags only managed to cover one of those games after barely covering the 21-point spread against Pepperdine. Gonzaga clocks in 2-1 SU and 0-3 ATS on the true road to date.
As for BYU, it’s come out victorious in eight of nine at home with the lone defeat coming against Utah Valley – a team currently ranked No. 89 by KenPom. The Zags have played to high scorers at a 9-7 clip while the under has cashed in 10 of the Cougars 17 played games.
Gonzaga Bulldogs
No team in the country owns a higher field goal percentage than that of the Gonzaga Bulldogs. It’s converted at an insane 51.8 percent clip to dent scoreboards for nearly 86 points per game. The offense is once again paced by Drew Timme who averages 21.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. His partner in crime has proven to be Julian Strawther with the 6’7” guard scoring a career high 13.9 points and ripping down an average of 6.5 caroms per contest. Rounding out the double-digit scorers is Rasir Bolton who’s been a steady performer for the team each of the last two seasons. As great the offense has been to date, the defense that concedes nearly 73.0 a game has proven to be the Achilles Heel with it ranked No. 73 in efficiency.
BYU Cougars
BYU has gotten out to a quick start in WCC play by way of playing a stifling brand of defensive basketball – especially close to the rim – and rebounding the ever-living hell out of the basketball. Notice I didn’t make any mention of the offense. This is an experienced team that never quits and goes nine-deep. Fousseyni Traore is currently the leading point getter (12.8 PPG) and rebounder (7.9 PPG) with Rudi Williams (12.3 PPG), Gideon George (11.9 PPG), and Spencer Johnson (10.6 PPG) rounding out the double-digit scorers. While that looks to be a formidable quadrant, the production has amounted to just 74.5 points per game (No. 136) and a 44.1 shooting percentage (No. 210). BYU is a horrendous 3-point shooting team (No. 245) that also averages an absurd 16.1 turnovers per game (No. 346).
The Wager
With the Zags failing to cover two straight as well as three of their last four, it’s highly possible linemakers hang a reduced betting line for this showcased WCC showdown. While BYU looks to be a formidable opponent due to the W/L record, I’m having a hard time buying into the Coogs keeping up with the Zags right from the opening tip. Along with turning the ball over with reckless abandon, BYU also loves to send the opposition to the charity stripe. While free throw shooting has been a sore spot for the Bulldogs (No. 198), I can’t help but think Timme and co. salt this one away late with the Coogs committing nearly 20 fouls per game (No. 325). Those two aspects paired with BYU clocking in with an offense ranked No. 172 in efficiency will have me running to the window to back the Zags at a likely reduced number.
Bet the Gonzaga/BYU Game at PointsBet Sportsbook
