Xavier/Gonzaga Total Pick
Should we expect a defensive battle when No. 11 Xavier and No. 1 Gonzaga meet in tonight’s Elite Eight contest at 6:09PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Gonzaga is the favorite in this game, as the Bulldogs are getting odds of -8 points against Xavier. The over/under total for the game is listed at 145.5 points. These two meet in the West Regional Final today on TBS from the SAP Center in San Jose, California.
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Standing at 35-1 overall, Gonzaga brings a 17-16 record with the under this season. The Bulldogs have been trending with the under as of late, going 6-2 with it over their last eight and 2-1 in the NCAA Tournament. On the season, the Zags have averaged 83.2 points per game on offense while allowing just 61 defensively. Lately, their offensive has taken a step back, as the Bulldogs are averaging just 71.4 per game over their last five contests. Their 3-point shooting has dipped to an average of 31.5 percent during these five games as well.
Xavier comes in at 24-13 on the season while putting up a 19-16-1 record with the under. Like Gonzaga, Xavier has been trending with the under lately as well. The Musketeers are 5-1-1 with the under in their last seven games overall and 1-1-1 with the under in the NCAA Tournament. For the season, Xavier averages 75.1 points per game on offense while allowing 71 on defense. However, in its last five, it is averaging 74.8 on offensive while allowing just 66.8 points on defense. Xavier is holding opponents to just 30.7 percent shooting from the arc in these give games while shooting 50 percent from the field and 43 percent from the arc in that same span.
Xavier is coming off a 73-71 win over Arizona, which I think could spell a similar style game tonight with Gonzaga. The total should be right in that low 70s range for both teams, it just comes down to shooting. Both defenses should be able to impact the opposing offenses and keep the shooting percentages lower than normal. Gonzaga isn’t playing all that well on offense right now while Xavier is hot, but probably at its ceiling. I think the under is the play tonight, as both teams should feel some early jitters. A lot is at stake when you consider neither has reached the Final Four.
ELITE 8 PREDICTION: XAVIER/GONZAGA UNDER 145.5