Gonzaga Bulldogs vs UCLA Bruins Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 03/23/2023

Game Time: 9:45 pm ET, Thursday, March 23, 2023

Venue:  T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV

Where to Watch:  CBS

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Gonzaga +2, UCLA -2; Over/Under:  145.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Gonzaga +2, UCLA -2; Over/Under:  145.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Gonzaga +2.5, UCLA -2.5; Over/Under:  145.5 points

Gonzaga Bulldogs:  30-5 (14-2) (1st place, WCC)

UCLA Bruins:  31-5 (18-2) (1st place, PAC-12)

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Gonzaga Bulldogs:  5-0  last 5

UCLA Bruins:  4-1  last 5

Gonzaga is coming into this game with a 30-5 record overall and they are 8-2 in their neutral site games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on an 11 game winning streak with wins coming against the San Francisco Dons, the BYU Cougars, the Loyola Marymount Lions, the Pepperdine Waves, the San Diego Toreros, the Saint Mary’s Gaels, the Chicago State Cougars, San Francisco again, Saint Mary’s again, the Grand Canyon Antelopes, and the TCU Horned Frogs in their last game. Drew Timme led the team in points in that game with 28 while Rasir Bolton was next on the team with 17 points. Anton Watson led the team in assists in that game with 4 while Anton Watson led the team in rebounds with 12. They were 44.8% from the field, 32% from 3-point range, and 64% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 87.3 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 73.1 PPG against them. Gonzaga has an ATS record of 13-20-1 this season and their O/U record is 20-14.

UCLA is coming into this game with a 31-5 record overall and they are 5-3 in their neutral site games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 2 game winning streak with wins coming against the UNC Asheville Bulldogs and Northwestern Wildcats in their last game. Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the team in points in that game with 24 while Amari Bailey was next on the team with 14 points. Tyger Campbell led the team in assists in that game with 7 while Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the team in rebounds with 8. They were 50% from the field, 40% from 3-point range, and 85.7% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 74.1 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 60.2 PPG against them. UCLA has an ATS record of 21-13-2 this season and their O/U record is 18-18.

The current betting odds have UCLA listed as a 2 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. UCLA finished the season with a 31-5 record overall and they were the best team in the PAC-12 all season despite not winning the PAC-12 Tournament. They were only 5-3 in their neutral site games but they played well in their last game to fend off a good Northwestern team and they have been playing with a chip on their shoulder all year due to the lack of respect they have been given for most of the season with their ranking. Gonzaga was 30-5 overall this season and was a lot better on neutral sites with an 8-2 record in those games but they have fallen from what they used to be and were not as good a team this season with some of the players they lost. Gonzaga was not expected to do much in this tournament and they haven't had the toughest path so far either but still struggled to beat TCU in their last game. UCLA will come to play their best game here and kick out a big contender in this tournament as UCLA seeks to win it all themselves. The best way to place a bet here is on UCLA to cover the spread in this game. 

Gonzaga UCLA Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Thursday, March 23, 2023 (9:45 pm ET start time) is UCLA 88 Gonzaga 82.

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Gonzaga Bulldogs: 13-26 ATS when seeded 4 or higher in the NCAA tournament. 11-19 ATS after playing a game as favorite. 31-16 OVER as a neutral court underdog or pick.

UCLA Bruins: 20-12 ATS as a favorite. 12-4 ATS off a home win. 11-6 OVER after playing a home game. 

Gonzaga Bulldogs:  None.

UCLA Bruins:  A. Bona (F) Ques Fri - Shoulder. D. Singleton (G) Ques Thurs - Ankle. J. Clark (G) out for season - Achilles. E. Manjikian (F) Out indefinitely - Arm.

“I think he's going to go down as one of the all-time great college players in the history of the game. And he still wasn't supposed to shoot that 3. But that's what makes him good. He does things like that every once in a while.” - Mark Few on Julian Strawther after his team’s win against TCU in their last game. 

“I was having flashbacks to when I had a full head of hair in the spring of 2000 running out there and Kenyon Martin was playing there. Looks like he’s got a bad sprain. ... I’m just happy he didn’t break his ankle. It’s been crazy for us here lately.” - Mick Cronin after his team’s win against Northwestern in their last game. 

R. Bolton 

N. Hickman 

J. Strawther 

D. Timme 

A. Watson

A. Bailey 

A. Bona 

T. Campbell 

J. Clark 

J. Jaquez

PPG: D. Timme (21.1)

APG: D. Timme (3.2)

Reb/G: D. Timme (7.4)

PPG: J. Jaquez Jr. (17.5)

APG: T. Campbell (4.7)

Reb/G: J. Jaquez Jr. (8)

Coaches:

Gonzaga Bulldogs: Mark Few (24th season)

UCLA Bruins: Mick Cronin (4th season)