No. 14 Gonzaga vs. No. 22 UCLA highlights our school basketball finest bets in a big-time top-25 matchup.
It’s a Saturday showdown, a matinee that carries the burden of custom and the joys of the current. Mark Few’s Gonzaga Bulldogs, ranked No. 14, face Mick Cronin’s No. 22 UCLA Bruins in a conflict of West Coast blue bloods.
Set towards the backdrop of the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, this top-25 matchup guarantees the sort of depth that defines school basketball. It’s a gathering of two storied applications, every searching for to cement their early-season credentials. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET on FOX. Inglewood would be the stage, however the nation might be watching.
Faculty Basketball Finest Bets for Saturday, Dec. 28
Gonzaga vs. UCLA Betting Preview
All Gonzaga vs. UCLA odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are right as of Saturday, Dec. 28.
SpreadGonzaga -4.5
MoneylineGonzaga -190 | UCLA +155
Over/Under148
Sport Time4:00 p.m. ET
LocationIntuit Dome| Inglewood, CA
How To WatchFox
Gonzaga vs. UCLA Finest Bets
There’s a rhythm, a consistency, to Mark Few’s groups—a symphony of offensive precision orchestrated by an elite level guard. This 12 months, Ryan Nembhard holds the baton, conducting Gonzaga’s high-powered assault with 10.2 assists to only 2.2 turnovers per sport. Towards UCLA’s relentless defensive strain, Nembhard’s poise might show pivotal, a gradual hand within the storm.
But, the Bulldogs face questions. With out a true secondary ball-handler, Nembhard bears a heavy load. Whereas Nolan Hickman thrives as a fringe sharpshooter, he isn’t a strain reliever. Enter Khalif Battle, the explosive veteran guard who generates offense by drawing fouls and creating chaos. Add a frontcourt trio of Graham Ike, Braden Huff, and Ben Gregg—all averaging double figures—and Gonzaga’s offensive depth stands out.
Gonzaga PG Ryan Nembhard is on tempo to have among the finest passing seasons in CBB. To this point he’s averaging
11 PPG3 RPG11 APG2 SPG57% TS
Nembhard is averaging a formidable double double with assists by means of his first 8 video games which is one thing virtually extraordinary. He’s additionally… pic.twitter.com/kFqaV3L3mb
— KJ (@KJ__Hoops) December 3, 2024
The Zags’ three losses inform a narrative. They’ve fallen solely to UConn, Kentucky, and a pre-injury West Virginia, every loss towards elite competitors. In the meantime, UCLA is using a scorching streak, profitable 9 of its final 10 video games, with slim victories over Arizona and Oregon showcasing its grit. Nevertheless, the Bruins’ offense—ranked sixtieth in effectivity—lags behind their stout protection (fourth).
This sport is a collision of contrasting strengths: Gonzaga’s up-tempo, 80+ level offense versus UCLA’s defensive grit. The query is whether or not the Bruins can maintain tempo when scoring turns into a necessity.
In a sport the place possessions matter, Gonzaga’s means to keep away from turnovers and dictate tempo offers it the sting. Few’s squad, rested and prepared, appears poised to run and gun, testing UCLA’s limits. The Bulldogs ought to cowl the -4.5 to -5 unfold, pulling away as their offensive firepower proves an excessive amount of for the Bruins to include over 40 minutes. That is Gonzaga’s second to shine, a check of its means to stability precision and tempo on the grand stage.
