No. 11 West Virginia (2-0) vs. No. 1 Gonzaga (2-0)
Series
Gonzaga holds a 4-0 advantage as the teams last met in the 2017 Sweet 16 where the Bulldogs took a 61-58 victory. There series started in 2012 and it has featured a home-and-home series plus the two NCAA Tournament matchups. Bob Huggins was 1-1 against the Bulldogs when he was at Cincinnati.
Vs. The Spread
The total has gone OVER in 15 of Gonzaga’s last 17 games while it has gone UNDER in 11 of West Virginia’s last 14 games. The Mountaineers are 1-5 SU against their last six WCC opponents. The Bulldogs are 4-2 ATS in their last six games.
| Teams | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | +8.5 (-110) | +335 | O 156 (-110) |
| Gonzaga | -8.5 (-110) | -435 | U 156 (-110) |
Last Time Out
West Virginia strung together three straight wins over South Dakota State, VCU, and Western Kentucky in the Crossover Classic in Rapid City, S.D. West Virginia rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat the Hilltoppers 70-64. Forward Derek Culver finished with 15 points to lead WVU as he was the Tournament MVP.
The Bulldogs won two games over then No. 6 Kansas and Auburn in the Fort Myers Tip-Off over Thanksgiving. The physicality of Gonzaga really showed as Drew Timme had 28 points and 10 boards and Corey Kispert went for 25 in a 90-67 win over the young Tigers.
Mountain Air
Western Kentucky head coach Rick Stansbury talked about the toughness of the physically imposing Derek Culver and Oscar Tshiebwe in the post after the Hilltoppers loss to the Mountaineers in the Crossover Classic championship game. Culver is averaging a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds in the first three games. Tshiebwe hasn’t had the touches that Culver has had, but averages 8.7 boards per contest and WVU has out rebounded the opposition, 42-34 on average. Point guard Miles McBride leads WVU at 16.3 points per game as he has been solid facilitating off the dribble.
From the Kennel
Gonzaga looked like an offensive dynamo in it’s two wins in Fort Myers. The Bulldogs’ shot 58 percent from the field while Timme and Kispert have combined for 50 points per game in those first two. The Bulldogs work the boards as well as they fashioned a 10 rebound advantage against Kansas and Auburn. They gassed the Jayhawks in the last 10 minutes of the game as they led 72-71 with 10:20 to play before finishing on a 30-19 tear for a 102-90 win. Point at guard Jalen Suggs started his season off with a bang by averaging 18 points in those first two. The freshman from Los Angeles played with the confidence and poise of a seasoned veteran.
Winner: Gonzaga 78, West Virginia (+8.5) 76
Over-Under: Take UNDER 156
