Gonzaga vs. Grand Canyon Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – NCAA Tournament Round First Round

March 13, 2023, by Andy Molitor College Basketball Predictions

The No. 3 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs (28-5) and the No. 14 seed Grand Canyon Antelopes (24-11) will meet on Friday at 7:35 PM in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Gonzaga is a 15.5-point favorite in the contest, which airs on truTV. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this 3-14 matchup in the West Region bracket. The point total in the matchup is 153.5.

Gonzaga vs. Grand Canyon Odds

Gonzaga odds to win: -1612
Grand Canyon odds to win: +890
Spread: Gonzaga (-15.5)
Total: 153.5

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Game Time and Information

Date: Friday, March 17, 2023
Time: 7:35 PM ET
TV: truTV
Where: Denver, Colorado
Venue: Ball Arena

Who Will Win Gonzaga vs. Grand Canyon?

Gonzaga and Grand Canyon Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

Gonzaga is 6-7 against the spread when favored by 15.5 points or more this season.

The Bulldogs and Antelopes average 9.3 more points between them than the total of 153.5 for this game.

Opponents of these teams have averaged a combined 139.7 points per game, 13.8 fewer than the point total in this game.

The average total for Gonzaga’s games this season is 6.9 more points than the over/under of 153.5 in this game.

The average over/under in Antelopes games this season is 11.4 fewer points than the point total of 153.5 for this outing.

The Bulldogs are 14-18-0 against the spread this season.

The Antelopes are 14-18-0 against the spread this year.

Gonzaga Stats & Insights

Gonzaga averages 87.5 points per game (first in college basketball) while allowing 72.9 per outing (264th in college basketball). It has a +482 scoring differential overall and outscores opponents by 14.6 points per game.

Gonzaga pulls down 33.6 rebounds per game (70th in college basketball) while allowing 28.4 per contest to its opponents. It outrebounds opponents by 5.2 boards per game.

The Bulldogs make 7.8 three-pointers per game (125th in college basketball) compared to their opponents’ 8.2. They shoot 38.7% from deep while their opponents hit 34.6% from long range.

Gonzaga averages 109.7 points per 100 possessions (first in college basketball), while allowing 91.4 points per 100 possessions (168th in college basketball).

When playing at home, the Bulldogs are scoring 8.1 more points per game (92.9) than they are when playing on the road (84.8).

Grand Canyon Stats & Insights

Grand Canyon is outscoring opponents by 8.5 points per game, with a +297 scoring differential overall. It puts up 75.3 points per game (91st in college basketball) and allows 66.8 per contest (78th in college basketball).

Grand Canyon is 64th in college basketball at 33.7 rebounds per game. That’s 4.3 more than the 29.4 its opponents average.

Grand Canyon connects on three more threes per contest than the opposition, 9 (34th in college basketball) compared to its opponents’ 6.

Grand Canyon averages 99.7 points per 100 possessions on offense (36th in college basketball), and gives up 88.5 points per 100 possessions (93rd in college basketball).

In 2022-23 the Antelopes are scoring 13.8 more points per game at home (81.3) than on the road (67.5).

Gonzaga Key Players to Watch

The scoring and rebounding leader for the Bulldogs is Drew Timme, who puts up 20.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

Gonzaga’s best passer is Nolan Hickman, who averages 3.2 assists per game to go with his 8.4 PPG scoring average.

Julian Strawther makes more threes per game than any other member of the Bulldogs, knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a clip of 2.2 per contest.

Anton Watson and Timme lead Gonzaga on the defensive end, with Watson leading the team in steals averaging 1.8 per game and Timme in blocks averaging 0.9 per contest.

Grand Canyon Key Players to Watch

Rayshon Harrison scores 17.7 points and tacks on 3.6 assists per game, putting him at the top of the Antelopes’ leaderboards for those statistics.

Gabe McGlothan grabs 7.7 rebounds per game (he also scores 12.8 points per game and adds 0.9 assists per game) which puts him at the top of the Grand Canyon rebounding leaderboard.

Chance McMillian is the most prolific from deep for the Antelopes, hitting 1.7 threes per game.

Grand Canyon’s leader in steals is McMillian with 0.7 per game, and its leader in blocks is Kobe Knox with 0.8 per game.