Santa Clara vs Gonzaga Prediction 1/8/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Santa Clara Broncos will meet on Thursday night in a West Coast Conference matchup at the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington.

Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Preview

The Gonzaga Bulldogs enter Thursday night’s contest with a 16–1 win-loss record, including 4- in conference play and a 3-0 road record. The Bulldogs have compiled wins over Alabama, Maryland, Arizona State, Creighton and the Oklahoma Sooners, while losing to the Michigan Wolverines. In the Gonzaga Bulldogs dominant 100-61 victory over the Maryland Terrapins earlier this season, Gonzaga forward Braden Huff amassed 20 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists showcasing his ability to lead the Gonzaga frontcourt.

The Gonzaga Bulldogs average 91.6 points (8th in country) on 52.4 percent shooting from the field (3rd in nation) and 36.9 percent shooting from three-point range per game. The Bulldogs are allowing opponents 67.4 points per contest which ranks 39th in the country.

Junior forward Braden Huff leads the Gonzaga Bulldogs averaging 18.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.5 blocks per game. Senior forward Graham Ike is averaging 16.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest. Senior guard Tyon Grant‑Foster provides the Bulldogs further backcourt versatility averaging 11.9 points and 5 rebounds per game.

Santa Clara Broncos Betting Preview

The Santa Clara Broncos enter Thursday evening’s contest with a 13–4 win‑loss record, including a 4–0 mark in WCC play after a dominant 98–70 win over San Diego in their most recent outing. Santa Clara has amassed wins over UC Irvine, Montana State, and Oregon, while losing games to Stanford, Nevada, and Washington State. Earlier this season, in the Broncos’ 103–99 upset victory over Gonzaga in Spokane, Santa Clara became the first team ever to score 100+ points inside the McCarthey Athletic Center, illustrating their ability to generate high‑level offense.

The Santa Clara Broncos average 82.4 points on 46.6 percent shooting from the field and 33.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc per game. Defensively, the Broncos are allowing opponents 71.5 points per contest. It should also be noted that the Broncos also attempt 29.9 three-point shots per game which ranks 18th in the nation.

Sophomore guard Christian Hammond leads the Santa Clara Broncos averaging 17 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting a rather impressive 41.4 percent from three‑point range per contest. Sophomore forward Allen Graves contributes 8.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Junior guard Elijah Mahi adds 14.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Why the Gonzaga Bulldogs will win

•    Quality frontcourt play. Junior forward Braden Huff averages 18.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

•    Elite offense. The Gonzaga Bulldogs average 91.6 points (8th in country) on 52.4 percent shooting from the field (3rd in nation) per contest.

•    Defensive advantage. Gonzaga allows just 67.4 points per contest. Conversely, the Santa Clara Toreros are allowing 71.5 points per game.

Why the Santa Clara Broncos will win

•     Three‑point volume. Santa Clara attempts 29.9 three-point shots per game creating high‑variance scoring upside.

•     Backcourt play. Sophomore guard Christian Hammond is averaging 17 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting a rather impressive 41.4 percent from three‑point range per contest.

Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Santa Clara Broncos Prediction

If the Gonzaga Bulldogs can control tempo and maintain their offensive rhythm, the Bulldogs should be able to create separation early and close out tomorrow night’s matchup with a comfortable win. With that said, I like Santa Clara to keep this game within the number here. In summary, I am backing the Santa Clara Broncos plus the 15.5 points in this game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Santa Clara Broncos +15.5