Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Loyola Marymount Lions: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/16/2023

by Chuck Sommers

Thursday, Feb 16, 2023
Time: 11 p.m. ET
Venue: Gersten Pavillion, Los Angeles, CA
Where to watch: CBS Sports Network

Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks


DraftKings: Gonzaga -8.5
FanDuel: Gonzaga -8.5
BetMGM: Gonzaga -8.5
Caesars: Gonzaga -8

Season record
No. 13 Gonzaga: 21-5 (10-2 WCC)
Loyola Marymount: 17-10 (7-6 WCC)

February is here and the college basketball season is taking full shape. Conference races still to be determined, the top 25 completely in shambles for what seems like every week, and there's bound to be an upset what seems like every single week. But as the season continues to progress with what seems like exciting action every week, you know our champion handicappers continue to put the work in each and every week to not only make money for them, but to ensure you get money in your pocket. All you need to do is look at the last 30 days. Scott Rickenbach has reeled in a net profit of $14,000 with a 24-9-0 run on the college hardwood. Team Del Genio has killed it with a 13-1-0 run at +$11,900. Will Rogers (28-15-0) and Matt Fargo (40-27-0) have also seen five figures over the last 30 days with college basketball. Surely, you want to get on this winning as well. All you need to do is go to bigal.com, check out our Best Bets page and make sure you are following along on the action. March will be here before you know it! Take advantage of our best best plays and find out what our champion handicappers are doing at bigal.com!

Gonzaga - Loyola Marymount preview, prediction and analysis


Recent form
Gonzaga: won 88-81 vs. BYU
LMU: lost 71-69 at Santa Clara

The Gonzaga Bulldogs don’t understand defense right now. Does anyone really? We should all use a little defense every now and then, whether it be to combat the cold weather that we’re experiencing across the country right now, or just a shield to carry us through the dreaded armies that are in our way. Gonzaga will need to figure out how to play defense on the basketball court, however.
 
But the defense this time might be in the form of revenge when Gonzaga takes on the Loyola Marymount Lions on Thursday at Gersten Pavilion. If there has ever been a game that has had more combined weight to it in terms of importance in terms of everything, this would be the game for it. Because Gonzaga is on a tour of revenge going against now the team that ended its longest home winning streak in the country at the time.
 
But even by the standards that Gonzaga has put across over the last number of years, giving up 81 points in back-to-back games is not an ideal situation even though Gonzaga has found ways to win in its last two games. Gonzaga is coming off an 88-81 victory over BYU on Saturday, two days after scoring 99 points against San Francisco in a victory. Gonzaga has won five of its last six games since losing to Loyola Marymount on January 19th.
 
Julian Strawther let the way with 26 points, and Drew Timme had 19 points, 8 assists and seven rebounds for the dynamic duo of Gonzaga to lead the way.
 
“These guys just trust me to make big shots. They find me and I’m always gonna shoot those,” Strawther said.
 
One thing that I can confidently say about this Gonzaga team is that there is no surefire consistency that makes me believe this team can go on a run in the NCAA tournament and win the whole thing. There were teams of yesteryear that would be able to pull that kind of a feat off. but the inconsistencies on defense and the inability to get stops in a timely matter will not help matters if this team continues to give up 81 points in a number of games. I do not anticipate that keeping Gonzaga around, no matter how many important pieces to that program they have that contribute on a nightly basis.
 
But if Gonzaga is going to get any sort of revenge in the meantime, taking out LMU is a good way to start. LMU has lost three of its last four and it's coming off a tough loss at Santa Clara the other day, 71-69. That loss came two days after LMU defeated St. Mary's 78-74 in overtime for its second trademark victory of the season.
 
If LMU is going to have a chance in this game, they are going to need to rely on their top player Cam Shelton. The guard is averaging 20.4 points per game on 48.8% shooting and has also dished out 4.4 assists. He is going to need to set the tone for this team if they want to have a chance to pull off this season sweep over Gonzaga.
 
Prediction
 
Gonzaga is laying eight points in this matchup, which is a big number even for being a row team and an understandably better team. But I fully believe that Gonzaga will get the revenge needed to win that game and to continue on with what should be a hectic final month of the regular season. Gonzaga 84, LMU 74

Betting trends


Gonzaga is 1-6 ATS on the road this season.

Gonzaga is 19-22 ATS off an over the last 3 seasons.

Gonzaga is 18-6 ATS revenging a home loss since 1997.

LMU is 10-3 ATS at home this season.

Projected starting lineup


Gonzaga:
PG: Rasir Bolton
SG: Nolan Hickman
SF: Julian Strawther
PF: Anton Watson
C: Drew Timme

Loyola Marymount:
PG: Cam Shelton
SG: Justin Ahrens
SF: Lamaj Lewis
PF: Keli Leaupepe
C: Rick Issanza

Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Gonzaga Bulldogs - Loyola Marymount Lions prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily college basketball projections and previews.

Chuck Sommers

About the Author:

Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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