9:20 pm
April 5

NCAA Tournament: #1 Baylor v. #1 Gonzaga

Who will WIN this matchup?

#1 Baylor Bears (27-2)

#1 Gonzaga Bulldogs (31-0)

 

Current odds:

Baylor Bears: (+170)

Gonzaga Bulldogs: (-190)

 

• The line for this game is Gonzaga by 4.5 points.

• Gonzaga and Baylor were slated to meet four months ago in a highly anticipated showdown but the game was called off shortly before tipoff due to a Bulldogs’ player testing positive for COVID-19. The two No. 1 seeds finally get the chance to share the court on Monday when they square off on the sport’s highest stage, the NCAA Tournament national title game in Indianapolis.

• The Bulldogs (31-0) are aiming to become the first unbeaten national champions since Indiana in 1976, while the Bears (27-2) are looking to claim their first national crown.

• Baylor had the easier Final Four contest on Saturday as it built a 25-point halftime lead while whipping second-seeded Houston 78-59. Gonzaga was pushed to the hilt by 11th-seeded UCLA and prevailed 93-90 in overtime on Jalen Suggs’ fabulous 35-foot heave as time expired. Suggs’ shot gave the Bulldogs their 35th straight victory, and the freshman is looking forward to a fierce fight with the Bears.

• Gonzaga was considered the best team in the land for nearly the entire season with Baylor just slightly behind. But once the Bears fell from the ranks of the unbeaten in late February, the gap seemed to widen. Yet in the eyes of Baylor star Jared Butler, this showdown is an even-matched contest.

• The Bears won their first five NCAA Tournament games by an average of 15.2 points. The last three wins have come against No. 5 seed Villanova, No. 3 Arkansas and Houston. Butler scored 17 points against the Cougars on Saturday and Davion Mitchell contributed 12 points and 11 assists.

• Gonzaga won its five tournament games by an average of 19.8 points. The highest seed it has faced was No. 5 Creighton in the Sweet 16. Drew Timme notched 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting in the win over UCLA that kept the Bulldogs from being recalled as a one-loss, close call.

• Gonzaga has won all five previous meetings with Baylor, including an 83-71 win in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
#1 Gonzaga Bulldogs
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