No longer can the Gonzaga Bulldogs be considered a mid-major. Gonzaga has made the NCAA Tournament in all 18 seasons that Mark Few has been in Spokane, but this team might be the best one yet. However, for all their success, they still have yet to make a Final Four and that is something that Few will be looking to change. Their first test will be against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, the winners of the Summit League.
This war on the floor will go down Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 2 p.m. ET at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City. The game will be televised live on TBS. We will have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every other NCAA Tournament matchup.
College Basketball Odds at BookMaker.eu
Gonzaga -22 vs. South Dakota State
The Bulldogs were one of the best ATS teams in all of college hoops this season, posting a 22-7-1 ATS mark. Gonzaga only lost once all year, at home as a 21-point favorite to BYU, but other than that covered large spreads with ease. Not only that but the Bulldogs were able to defeat the team that has been the thorn in their sides in the West Coast Conference, the St. Mary’s Gaels, all three times this season. Four of their last five ended up going under the total.
South Dakota State caught fire at just the right time in order to get to the Big Dance. The Jackrabbits won their final six games, covering five of those, and are 8-2 ATS in their last 10. Away from home this team has played a ton of overs with the total not being enough 14 of 20 times.
Player to Watch
Mike Daum has made a name for himself in recent weeks. Daum is the nation’s second-leading scorer and turned it on down the stretch to key the Jackrabbits’ run. He scored 30 points or more in four of his last five games and has been extremely efficient this season. The 6’9 sophomore is sinking 51.6 percent of his shots and is 41.6 percent from three-point range on the year.
Additionally, Daum is getting it done on the glass. He is averaging 8.2 boards a game and that’s extremely impressive for a big man with range. Daum just doesn’t miss from the foul line either, sinking 87.1 percent of his foul shots on the year.
Gonzaga must account for Daum. He is by far the best player on South Dakota State and the only way that the Jackrabbits keep this one close.
Key Stat
There’s really nothing that Gonzaga doesn’t do well. The Bulldogs are second in the nation in both offensive field goal percentage and defensive field goal percentage. They are in the Top 10 in four of the five major defensive categories and in the Top 75 in all five major categories on both offense and defense.
As for South Dakota State, this team can’t play a lick of defense. The Jackrabbits allow 77.4 PPG and opponents are hitting 45 percent of their field goals on this team as well. That should mean a big day for Gonzaga as long as it can hit from the floor.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
It’s a shame that South Dakota State has to face Gonzaga. This Jackrabbits team could have been a deadly 15-seed against a team like Duke, but instead will likely see it’s hopes go by the wayside against a very talented Gonzaga team. Nigel Williams-Goss and Przemek Karnowski are likely to be too much on their own, but this Bulldogs team is deep and can attack you in a multitude of ways.
Still, 22 points is quite a lot this time of year. Gonzaga is definitely going to get the victory, but Daum will play well enough that the Jackrabbits keep it within the number.
College Basketball Odds: Gonzaga 87, South Dakota State 70
BookMaker.eu offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker.eu!
