Lions vs. Bulldogs Prediction
The seventh-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs are a massive favorite tonight as they host the lowly North Alabama Lions. Is Gonzaga a good bet to cover the huge spread or is the better play on the underdogs?
Game Snapshot
307669 North Alabama Lions at 307670 Gonzaga Bulldogs
Friday, December 28, 2018
McCarthey Athletic Center at 9PM ET
TV: None
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Bulldogs are a 39-point favorite on the spread line. The total is set at 154.5 points. As of Friday morning, 72 percent of public bets are coming in on host Gonzaga. Check out our College Basketball Public Betting Page for the latest information.
Lions drop third in a row at VMI
North Alabama dropped to 3-10 on the season Friday night with an 89-68 loss at Virginia Military Institute. The Lions got out of the gates slow and trailed 52-25 at halftime en route to the defeat. Kendall Stafford paced North Alabama with 16 points on 8-of-14 shooting to go with six rebounds. Jamari Blackmon contributed 15 points to go with four boards. Christian Agnew tallied 13 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Kendarius Smith added 10 points and five caroms. The Lions shot 27-of-66 from the floor including 4-of-16 from 3-point range and 10-of-15 at the free throw line.
Gonzaga crushes Denver
The Bulldogs dominated at home against the Pioneers last Friday as it cruised to a 101-40 victory. Gonzaga (11-2) led 56-21 at halftime and did not let up after the break. Brandon Clarke helped pace the Zags with 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting to go with seven rebounds, three blocked shots and two assists. Rui Hachimura also scored 23 while also tallying five rebounds and two assists. Corey Kispert contributed 13 points, four boards and two dimes. Zach Norvell Jr. had 12 points, four assists and two rebounds. Filip Petrusev added 10 points and four boards off the bench. The Bulddogs shot a red-hot 39-of-57 from the floor including 10-of-23 from 3-point range plus 13-of-16 at the charity stripe.
College Basketball Betting Trends
North Alabama
The Lions are 5-0 ATS in their last five games versus a team with a winning percentage above .600. The under is 8-1 in the last nine North Alabama games overall.
Gonzaga
The BUlldogs are 15-6-1 ATS in their last 22 games versus a team with a winning percentage below .400. Gonzaga is 4-1 ATS in its last five games following an ATS win.
Prediction:
I usually don’t like to touch spreads this high, but Gonzaga has a way of overwhelming and blowing out inferior opponents at home with Denver being the latest example. I don’t love giving that many points, but the Lions just lost by 21 at VMI so losing by 40 at a much more talented Gonzaga team on the other side of the country is not inconceivable in the slightest. Go with the favored Bulldogs here.
NCAA DAILY PREDICTION: GONZAGA BULLDOGS -39