Gonzaga Bulldogs vs BYU Cougars Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 01/12/2023

Game Time: 9:30 pm ET, Thursday, January 12, 2023

Venue:  J. Willard Marriott Center (MC), Provo, UT

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Gonzaga -6, BYU +6; Over/Under:  150 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Gonzaga -6, BYU +6; Over/Under:  150 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Gonzaga -6, BYU +6; Over/Under:  150 points

 

Gonzaga Bulldogs:  14-3 (3-0) (1st place, WCC)

BYU Cougars:  13-6 (3-1) (3rd place, WCC)

 

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Gonzaga Bulldogs:  5-0  last 5

BYU Cougars:  4-1  last 5

 

Gonzaga is coming into this game with a 14-3 record overall and they are 2-1 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are also 3-0 in their conference games this season as well. They are entering this game on a 9 game winning streak with wins coming against the Kent State Golden Flashes, the Washington Huskies, the Northern Illinois Huskies, the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Montana Grizzlies, the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers, the Pepperdine Waves, the San Francisco Dons, and the Santa Clara Broncos in their last game. Drew Timme and Nolan Hickman each led the team in points in that game with 20 while Julian Strawther was next on the team with 18 points. Drew Timme and Julian Strawther each led the team in assists in that game with 4 while Ben Gregg led the team in rebounds with 8. They were 46.9% from the field, 36.8% from 3-point range, and 63.6% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 85.9 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 72.9 PPG against them. Gonzaga has an ATS record of 4-11-1 this season and their O/U record is 9-7.

 

 

BYU is coming into this game with a 13-6 record overall and they are 8-1 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are also 3-1 in their conference schedule this season as well. They are entering this game off of a win against the San Diego Toreros in their last game. Fousseyni Traore led the team in points in that game with 15 while Rudi Williams was next on the team with 13 points. Jaxson Robinson led the team in assists in that game with 6 while Rudi Williams led the team in rebounds with 6. They were 50% from the field, 26.7% from 3-point range, and 88.9% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 74.5 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 66.7 PPG against them. BYU has an ATS record of 9-8 this season and their O/U record is 7-10.

The current betting odds have BYU listed as a 6 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. BYU has not been bad this season with a 13-6 record overall but they have been pretty good in their home games with an 8-1 home record. They are also 3-1 in their conference games as they have been playing well in their games lately and this is a very big rivalry game for them which will mean a lot considering the next time they see each other they will be in different conferences. Gonzaga enters this game as a top 10 team in the country with their 14-3 record overall, but they are 2-1 in their road games as they have not been perfect in those. They are 3-0 in their conference games but their last 2 wins in the conference have actually been by 5 points or less and considering the magnitude of this game in their rivalry, BYU will be bringing their best effort here at home. Gonzaga has already been winning close games in the conference and BYU will fight hard at home to get the win in this last meeting between the schools in the WCC. The best way to place a bet here is on BYU to cover the spread in this game.

 

Gonzaga BYU Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Thursday, January 12, 2023 (9:30 pm ET start time) is Gonzaga 76 BYU 73.

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Gonzaga Bulldogs: 5-11 ATS in all games. 3-10 ATS after playing a game as favorite. 11-3 UNDER after playing a game as a road favorite.

BYU Cougars: 31-16 ATS in a home game where the total is 145 to 149.5. 12-7 UNDER as a home underdog or pick. 12-3 UNDER after a blowout win by 20 points or more.

 

 

Gonzaga Bulldogs:  J. Few (G) Out indefinitely - Undisclosed. K. Perry (F) Out indefinitely - Back.

BYU Cougars:  T. Knell (G) Mid Feb - Shoulder. H. Dong (F) Mid Jan - Ankle.

 

 

“I think it’s a special rivalry and one that should continue even past (BYU) leaving the conference. I think it’s something where we should do home-and-homes forever. It’s kind of like –obviously not to the level– Texas and (Texas) A&M. I feel like it’s just developed into such a great rivalry.” - Drew Timme on the BYU/Gonzaga rivalry coming into this game against them.

 

 

“This game has been something super meaningful to us. I think it’s super fun for our fans. It’s going to be a super fun gym on Thursday like it always is. The one thing about Gonzaga is that coach Few and myself, are inclined to keep playing somehow. I don’t know if it’s every year, but keep finding a home-and-home from time to time that we can do.” - Mark Pope on the BYU/Gonzaga rivalry coming into this game against them.

 

 

 

R. Bolton 

N. Hickman  

J. Strawther 

D. Timme 

A. Watson

 

G. George 

D. Hall 

J. Robinson 

F. Traore 

N. Waterman

 

 

PPG: D. Timme (21.8)

APG: N. Hickman (3.6)

Reb/G: D. Timme (7.9)

 

PPG: F. Traore (12.8)

APG: D. Hall (3.5)

Reb/G: F. Traore (7.9)

 

Coaches:

Gonzaga Bulldogs: Mark Few (24th season)

BYU Cougars: Mark Pope (4th season)