San Francisco Dons vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/9/2023

Time: 9 p.m. ET

Venue: McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, WA

Where to watch: ESPN2

DraftKings: Gonzaga -13.5

FanDuel: Gonzaga -13.5

BetMGM: Gonzaga -14.5

Caesars: NL

San Francisco: 15-11 (4-7 WCC)

No. 16 Gonzaga: 19-5 (8-2 WCC)

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San Francisco - Gonzaga preview, prediction and analysis

San Francisco: lost 84-70 vs. Santa Clara

Gonzaga: lost 78-70 (OT) at No. 15 Saint Mary's

There is a new dog atop the West Coast Conference, and it’s not the Gonzaga Bulldogs. A rough few weeks has suddenly turned into a wild situation in the WCC with the Zags now suddenly not in first place in the conference. They’ll try to bounce back on Thursday when they host the San Francisco Dons in Spokane.

 

It’s not often that Gonzaga can shoot 49 percent in a game and still find a way to lose. That’s what happened in the epic 78-70 overtime loss to the Saint Mary’s Gaels last Saturday. Drew Timme led the way with 23 points and five rebounds, but Julian Strawther struggled with just 10 points on 4 of 11 shooting and 0 of 4 from 3-point range. Gonzaga was even a rare 3-point underdog and still failed to cover.

 

“It was hard to generate offense, especially down the stretch,” coach Mark Few said. "It got really, really physical.”

 

When’s the last time that you heard Gonzaga struggled in a game that got really physical? Doesn’t normally happen for a program that has been a model of consistency for the longest time. And now with everyone returning to the point where you thought they could challenge for a national championship, this team doesn’t look any better right now competing for a title.

 

But it’s been a struggle against the spread for the Bulldogs as of late, covering in just three of their last nine games in which they’ve been double-digit favorites in five of the last six. The smallest spread was when they got the 3 against the Gaels, but still failed to cover.

 

San Francisco has covered in four of its last five games but failed to do so as 3-point favorites following the Dons’ 84-70 loss to Santa Clara on Saturday. After winning three straight, the Dons followed that with losses to Saint Mary’s in Moraga and the home loss by 14 to the Broncos.

 

This horrendous performance of shooting 34 percent wasted a 31-point effort from Khalil Shabazz, who went 6 of 13 from 3-point range. Tyrell Roberts had 17 points, but shot 7 of 19 to get there and didn’t have a single free-throw attempt.

 

This team is not designed to score a bunch of baskets, and things are not about to be exciting when anything happens against an angry Gonzaga team. At the very least, that’s what I’m leaning toward that will happen.

 

Gonzaga is laying 13.5 in this one and I don’t expect this one to be close. Never underestimate how angry Few can get this group. They know Saint Mary’s will be coming to Spokane at some point. Right now, it’s time to destroy the victims. Gonzaga 85, San Francisco 65

San Francisco is 13-12 ATS this season.

San Francisco is 21-22 ATS after a conference game the last 3 seasons.

Gonzaga is 7-13 ATS as a favorite this season.

PG: Tyrell Roberts

SG: Marcus Williams

SF: Khalil Shabazz

PF: Isaiah Hawthorne

C: Josh Kunen

PG: Rasir Bolton

SG: Nolan Hickman

SF: Julian Strawther

PF: Anton Watson

C: Drew Timme

Points: Khalil Shabazz -- 16.0

Rebounds: Zane Meeks -- 5.8

Assists: Khalil Shabazz -- 3.0

Points: Drew Timme -- 21.2

Rebounds: Drew Timme -- 7.5

Assists: Drew Timme -- 3.4