Gonzaga Bulldogs (15-3) vs Portland Pilots (9-10)
Game Info: Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 10:00 pm (McCarthey Athletic Center)
Betting Odds: Gonzaga Bulldogs -19 -- Over/Under: 161.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Portland Pilots will head up to Spokane to meet the Gonzaga Bulldogs in WCC action from the McCarthey Center on ESPN2. Gonzaga holds an overwhelming series lead of 41-2.
Portland moved to 9-10 after beating San Francisco at home. The Pilots capitalized on a ten-point halftime lead, and got back into the win column with a five-point victory. Portland scores 78.8 points per game, while allowing 68.6 ppg and shooting 46.3 from the floor.
Portland snapped a five-game skid withTyler Robertson runs the show for Portland again this season. The junior swingman has flirted with a handful of triple-doubles this season, and he leads the Pilots in scoring (14.8) and assists (5.7). Moses Wood compliments him from the inside, and he leads the team in rebounding (6.4), while scoring 13.3 ppg.
Gonzaga improved to 15-3 following a road win over BYU. The Bulldogs found themselves in real trouble in their annual trip to Provo, but they’d escape late to defeat the Cougars one point. Gonzaga scores 86.9 points per game, while allowing 72.6 ppg, and shooting 52.6% from the floor.
The Zags closed out a great month of December by going for a season-high 111 points last time out, and they look like championship contenders again. Drew Timme came through big time in the win over Bama. The veteran big posted tied a season-high with 29 points and grabbed 10 boards in the victory, and he’s now scored 22 or more in four games in a row. Timme leads the Zags in scoring (22.7) and rebounding (8.3) again this season. Fellow senior Anton Watson joins him up front, and he posted double-doubles against Baylor and Kentucky. Julian Strawther double-doubled in the win over in-state foe Washington and he’s averaging 13.1 ppg and 7.8 rpg. Chattanooga transfer Malachi Smith has reached double figures in each of the past five games.
Portland is 10-9 against the spread this season, with a 8-11 over/under record. Gonzaga is 12-6ATS this year, with a 10-8 o/u record.
The Zags should be able to keep things going versus a pesky Portland team at home without much of an issue. The BYU scare was an eye-opener, but after three strong wins over the Cougars, Santa Clara, and San Francisco, a return to the northwest should be refreshing, and I like them coming away with an assertive victory this weekend. Take Gonzaga’s spread Saturday night.