Gonzaga vs. UCLA Sweet 16 Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
The Bruins advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for a third straight year with a hard fought 68-63 win over Northwestern in the Second Round. But in addition to their current shaky 1-4 straight run, the Bruins have covered the spread just twice in their past 12 Sweet Sixteen appearances. The Bulldogs have also been a fixture at the Sweet Sixteen, advancing to the second weekend of March Madness in each of the past nine years, but have claimed just four Sweet Sixteen victories over that stretch. The Zags eked out a narrow 84-81 win over TCU in the Second Round and ride an 11-game win streak into Thursday’s action.
The Bruins are pegged as 2-point favourites in this marquee matchup, while the total is pegged at 145.5.
Gonzaga vs. UCLA Sweet Sixteen Point Spread and Betting
Thursday night’s matchup at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas marks the first meeting between these two teams since November 2021, and their first date at March Madness since the Zags claimed a 93-90 win at the Final Four in 2021. Overall, Gonzaga has won five of seven tilts with the Bruins since 1999. Each team has claimed a Sweet Sixteen victory over that stretch, with UCLA earning a 73-71 win in 2006, and the Bulldogs responding with a 74-62 win in 2015. Gonzaga has covered in five of seven head-to-head meetings, and the UNDER has paid out in totals betting in three of their past four.
Gonzaga Bulldogs
The Bulldogs put their nation-leading offensive muscle on display in last weekend’s win over TCU. Trailing by five points at the half, the Zags steadily wore down the Horned Frogs during an impressive 51-point second-half performance, and have now scored 80 or more points nine times during their current 11-0 run. Drew Timme turned in yet another magnificent performance at the Big Dance, dropping a game-high 28 points and eight rebounds, and has now averaged 26.2 points over his past five NCAA Tournament games. Senior big man Anton Watson made his presence known under the bucket with 12 rebounds and has now averaged 11 boards over his past three games.
UCLA Bruins
After thrashing UNC Asheville in an 86-53 First Round win, the Bruins had their hands full with a pesky Northwestern squad in Second Round action. The Bruins appeared to have matters in hand while storming out to a 10-point lead at the half, but allowed the Wildcats to chip away at their advantage, and keep it a two-possession game up until the final two minutes. With the narrow win, UCLA has now scored 68 or fewer points in two of three games after scoring 75 or more in six of its previous seven. Senior Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the Bruins with 24 points and added eight boards while Tyger Campbell went a perfect 12-for-12 on free throws, and has now hit 100% from the line in three of his past four outings. However, the Bruins must rekindle their offensive spark if they are to keep pace with the high-powered Bulldogs.
GONZ
UCLA