We’re on to the Round of 32, and we have a really interesting matchup brewing in the West Region. The top-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs are favored to win the NCAA Tournament, though they had to work to win their first-round game against Georgia State.
Memphis was originally projected to be one of the top teams in the country, but they ended up as a No. 9 seed after their carelessness and lack of focus cost them too many games. Still, if the Tigers can lock in for 40 minutes against the Bulldogs, we could see a bit of madness ensue.
Let’s take a closer look at this Gonzaga vs Memphis matchup, giving you the best odds and bets to place.
Gonzaga vs Memphis Odds
Gonzaga vs Memphis March Madness odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook and current as of Friday, March 18, at 9 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Gonzaga (-800) vs Memphis (+550)
- Spread: Gonzaga -10.5 (-110) vs Memphis +10.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: Over 154.5 (-110) / Under 154.5 (-110)
- Implied Score: Gonzaga 82.5, Memphis 72
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Gonzaga vs Memphis Prediction
Memphis’ first-round game against Boise State was a tale of two halves for the Tigers. The first half showcased the team they could be when they are playing well, while the second half showed why this team won’t win a national championship despite having the talent to do so.
Memphis missed free throws, turned the ball over, and got out-hustled for loose balls. Luckily for them, it was too little, too late for Boise State.
The first round also featured drastically different halves from Gonzaga. The Bulldogs went ice-cold in the first half, missing 12 shots in a row and going just 9-for-19 from the charity stripe.
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However, Gonzaga stuck with it and blew the game open in the second half, ultimately winning by 19. Their advantage in the post was just too much for Georgia State to handle.
Memphis will need to limit its mistakes against Gonzaga, as the Tigers’ issue all season long has been shooting themselves in the foot. That’s their fatal flaw and is going to cost them eventually.
So while Memphis has the talent, size, and athleticism to win this game, the top seed will move on.
Gonzaga vs Memphis Score Pick
Gonzaga 81, Memphis 69
Memphis has the talent to make this a game, but Gonzaga’s all-around excellence will be too much to overcome. It wouldn’t surprise me if we see a close first half, followed by the Zags pulling away in the second half.
Gonzaga vs Memphis Best Bets
Under 154.5 Total Points (-110) at Caesars
Wager: 2 Units
Game totals have gone under for the Bulldogs 56.7% of the time this season. With their tough defense — which includes Chet Holmgren protecting the rim — the Under looks likely once again.
It also helps that the Tigers continue to waste possessions by turning the ball over and missing free throws, leading to lower-scoring games.
Gonzaga -10.5 (-110) at Caesars
Wager: 1 Unit
This looks like it will be another close game for Gonzaga. However, I expect the game flow to play out similarly to their first-round game. When it comes down to crunch time in the second half, the Bulldogs will strap in and get the job done, getting easy buckets.
That’s typically when Memphis stumbles and gets in its own way. For this reason, I like the Bulldogs to cover in this round for our CBB of the day.
