The South Carolina Gamecocks have made a Cinderella run to the Final Four and hope the journey isn’t finished. The No. 7 seed has pulled off a bevy of upset in the NCAA Tournament and will aim for another one when it faces off against the No. 1 seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Final Four. There will be a berth in the national championship on the line and both sides come in playing very well.
While the game is at a neutral site, it is closer in proximity to Gonzaga, so the Bulldogs could have a stronger presence in the stands. However, that shouldn’t play a huge role in the outcome as the arena is expansive.
Gonzaga has a much better record and is the higher seed. Thus, it is a solid favorite to win this game. However, the Gamecocks have had no problem conquering foes as the underdog, including Florida last time out in the Elite Eight.
At 6:09 p.m. ET, tune into CBS for live television coverage of this NCAA basketball game on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
We'll have NCAA basketball odds available for this and every game on the college basketball Saturday schedule.
College Basketball Odds
Gonzaga is listed as a 6.5-point favorite in this matchup. The Bulldogs should also be a solid favorite on the moneyline when the odds are released. The scoring total in this one is set at 138 points, with early money coming in on the “over” more heavily.
The Bulldogs are 36-1 straight up and 24-10-2 against the spread. Gonzaga has played in 12 neutral site games on the season, covering in six matchups and pushing once. The Bulldogs have been an underdog in every game on the year and that will remain the same in this one.
South Carolina is 26-10 straight up and 16-18 against the spread. The Gamecocks have played in seven neutral site games on the season and have covered in five of them, including all four in the tournament. South Carolina is 6-4 against the spread as an underdog.
Key Stat
64.8. That’s the number of points per game South Carolina is allowing this season, but its tough defense will be challenged by a solid Gonzaga offense. The Bulldogs finished 14th nationally with 83.2 points per game, which they paired with a tough defense, as well.
However, Gonzaga accomplished much of its gaudy numbers against inferior competition in the West Coast Conference. South Carolina is a much tougher foe and this should be a good matchup.
The Bulldogs are led offensively by Nigel Williams-Goss, who scored 16.7 points per game. Six other players score at least 7.3 points per game, so the team has nice balance. The Gamecocks will need to be stout defensively again to pull this upset.
South Carolina does not want to get into a shootout against a more talented opponent.
Player to Watch
Sindarius Thornwell -- Gonzaga has the overall talent advantage, but South Carolina boasts the most important player on the court. Thornwell was the SEC Player of the Year and has been fantastic in the NCAA Tournament.
He is averaging 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game. Thornwell shoots 44.2 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from three-point range.
He had 29 points, 11 rebounds and three steals in an opening-round blowout of Marquette, followed by 24 points, six rebounds and five assists in a big second-round upset of Duke. Thornwell then had 24 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks in a win over Baylor and then 26 points, seven rebounds and a pair of steals last time out against Florida.
In what is expected to be a relatively low-scoring game, if South Carolina can get 25 points or to from Thornwell, it could have a solid chance of pulling the upset.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
South Carolina has been a repeated underdog throughout March Madness and keeps coming away with victories. While once again Gonzaga is expected to win this one, the trip isn’t going to stop here.
Those who have backed the Gamecocks have been greatly rewarded the past four games. Another bet on the moneyline will be a lucrative payout because South Carolina is amazingly going to pull off another upset behind a great game from Thornwell.
College Basketball Odds: South Carolina 74, Gonzaga 71
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