Santa Clara Broncos vs Gonzaga Bulldogs NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/18/25
Looking to win big? The Broncos and Bulldogs face off at 9:00 ET on ESPN+. The Bulldogs are hosting the game at McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, WA. The odds for this West Coast conference game currently have Gonzaga as the -12.5 point favorite with the over/under line sitting at 158.5 points.
SANTA CLARA BRONCOS VS GONZAGA BULLDOGS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Santa Clara Broncos +12.5
This game will be played at McCarthey Athletic Center at 9:00 ET on Saturday, January 18th.
WHY BET THE SANTA CLARA BRONCOS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-71 in favor of the Bulldogs.
- Even though we have Gonzaga winning straight-up, we like Santa Clara at +12.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 158.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 148 points.
Is a Road Win Possible for the Broncos?
Santa Clara Broncos Recent Game/Games
The Broncos dropped to 12-7 on the season after a 57-54 road loss to Loyola Marymount on Thursday. Santa Clara, who were -4.5 favorites going into the game, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.
Santa Clara trailed 29-26 at halftime and both teams scored 28 points in the second half. The game’s total points of 111 fell well short of the O/U line of 148.5.
Santa Clara struggled offensively in their last game, scoring just 54 points with a field goal percentage of 36.2%. Their effective field goal percentage was 39.7%, and they hit only 4 of 26 three-point attempts, shooting 15.4% from beyond the arc.
Inside the arc, the Broncos connected on 53.1% of their two-point shots, and they were 8/10 from the free-throw line. Christoph Tilly led the way with 25 points on 10/15 shooting, while Caleb Stone-Carrawell added 19 points, and Adama-Alpha Bal contributed 14 points and 5 assists.
Santa Clara’s defense was solid, holding their opponent to just 57 points on 41% shooting from the field. They were particularly effective at defending the three-point line, where the opposing team managed only 3 of 18 attempts, a 16% success rate.
Inside the arc, Santa Clara’s opponent shot 52%, converting 20 of 38 two-point attempts. From the free-throw line, they went 8 for 11, hitting 72% of their foul shots. The Broncos also limited second-chance opportunities, allowing just 6 offensive rebounds.
Will Gonzaga Live Up to Expectations at Home?
Gonzaga Bulldogs Recent Game/Games
Gonzaga’s season record moved to 14-5 after a 97-89 loss to Oregon State on Thursday. The Bulldogs were -9 favorites going into the game but failed to cover the spread.
Gonzaga trailed 46-45 at halftime and scored 38 points in the 2nd half while allowing 37. The combined points of 186 went over the O/U line of 150.5.
Gonzaga put up 89 points in their latest game, shooting 41.7% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 47.2%. They connected on 36% of their threes, going 9-for-25, and hit 80% from the free-throw line, making 20 of 25 attempts. The Bulldogs also pulled down 19 offensive rebounds and dished out 19 assists.
Michael Rataj and Graham Ike led the way, each shooting 60% or better from the field. Rataj finished with 29 points and 7 rebounds, while Ike added 26 points and 9 boards. Nate Kingz contributed 20 points, hitting 3 of 4 from deep, and Ryan Nembhard recorded 10 assists to go along with his 13 points.
Gonzaga’s defense struggled, giving up 97 points on 58% shooting from the field. They allowed 31 made field goals on 53 attempts.
Inside the arc, Gonzaga allowed 25/39 shooting (64%). From three, they gave up 6/14 shooting (42%).