On paper the best matchup on Thursday’s Sweet 16 slate is #3 Gonzaga taking on #2 UCLA. Both of these schools have National Championship aspirations, and have had some Tournament battles in the past including the Bulldogs’ 93-90 buzzer beating win in 2021 that sent them to the Championship game where they eventually lost to Baylor. Will we see another classic here?
Before Betting on Gonzaga vs UCLA
Gonzaga comes into the 2023 tournament with a little less pressure as a #3 seed, although a 30-5 campaign can’t be seen as a “down” year by any means. The Bulldogs were the #1 overall seed and the Championship favorite last year, but couldn’t get out of the second round with their season ending in a 74-68 defeat to Arkansas.
Gonzaga lost some key members of last year’s 24-3 club, but the elder statesman Drew Timme remains and he’s averaging 21.0 ppg through the first two rounds. Julian Strawther has added 15.8 in wins over Grand Canyon (82-70) and a pesky TCU squad (84-81) last weekend.
Timme has had a great year and an impressive college basketball career, but the same can be said for UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez, Jr. who averaged 17.5 ppg during the regular season and was named the Pac 12 Player of the Year. Jaquez, Jr. had 19 points when these two teams met in the Final 4 in 2021, a contest that Gonzaga won with a Jalen Suggs 3-pointer at the buzzer that cost the Bruins a trip to the Championship Game. They always say that revenge is a dish best served cold.
Bulldogs vs Bruins NCAAB Offshore Betting Odds
| Offshore Sportsbook | Moneyline | Total | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetOnline | Gonzaga (2.04) | UCLA (1.80) | 145.5 | Gonzaga +1.5 (1.95) | UCLA -1.5 (1.87) |
| Bovada | Gonzaga (2.05) | UCLA (1.80) | 145.5 | Gonzaga +1.5 (1.91) | UCLA -1.5 (1.91) |
| BetUS | Gonzaga (OFF) | UCLA (OFF) | 145.5 | Gonzaga +1.5 (1.91) | UCLA -1.5 (1.91) |
| SportsBetting.ag | Gonzaga (2.04) | UCLA (1.80) | 145.5 | Gonzaga +1.5 (1.95) | UCLA -1.5 (1.87) |
| Pinnacle | Gonzaga (2.04) | UCLA (1.85) | 145.5 | Gonzaga +1.5 (1.98) | UCLA -1.5 (1.87) |
| MyBookie | Gonzaga (2.00) | UCLA (1.83) | 145.5 | Gonzaga +1.5 (1.91) | UCLA -1.5 (1.91) |
Gonzaga vs UCLA Prediction & Pick
UCLA faced some injury concerns prior to the tournament but they’ve looked solid through the first two rounds in wins over UNC-Asheville (86-53) and Northwestern (68-63). The Bruins are a 2-point loss to #1 seed Arizona away from a 15 game win streak and they want their revenge on Thursday.
