Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. San Francisco Dons odds and best bet

We just missed the win with Duke by a point Wednesday night. As expected, it was a game played at Virginia's pace but Duke flashed some depth with Jeremy Roach leading the team in scoring off the bench. The Blue Devils are going to be dangerous next month.

For Thursday  night, I am going all the way out West to the WCC. I haven't talked about the Zags in a while, and I have to admit I was experiencing some Big Ten fatigue.

Gonzaga is a perfect 12-0 in conference play, but what else is new? This team is loaded and their dominance of the WCC is to be expected when the Bulldogs have the league's most efficient offense and defense. That dominance has been profitable, too. The Zags are 8-2-2 ATS in league games this season and in forwards Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga has the top-two players in the league.

San Francisco is in third place in the WCC, but you can make an argument they are the league's second-best team. KenPom rates them as the second-best offense and defense, so even though they are behind St. Mary's in the standings, they rate very well. They also have a couple of all-conference players in big man Yauhen Massalski and guard Jamaree Bouyea. Those are no household names, but the veterans are having strong seasons they hope will lead to the NCAA Tournament. 

Game Info

Gonzaga Bulldogs (23-2) vs. San Francisco Dons (22-7)
Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022
9:00 PM
Sobrato Center, San Francisco, Calif.
ESPN2

Betting Odds

Spread: Bulldogs -10 (-110), Dons +10 (-110)
Total: 156.5
Moneyline: Bulldogs -480, Dons +385

Gonzaga -10

When these teams met earlier in the season, Gonzaga won by 16 points, which was a push at the sportsbook. San Francisco held them to just 78 points, their second-lowest total in a WCC game this season. 

The Dons know how to play Gonzaga pretty well, but it is still not enough to move me off the Zags winning comfortably, even with this game being played on campus in San Francisco. 

In the previous win, the duo of Timme and Holmgren combined for 45 points, and with Holmgren getting better with every game of his freshman season, the change of venue is not going to be enough to close the gap. 

In that first game, Zags guard Rasir Bolton made just one shot and the team still won with ease. If you look at the numbers, he is actually one of the most efficient offensive players in the country, and as a veteran from the Big 12, is not going to be phased by what should be a good environment on Thursday night. Look for him to be better this time around, which can more than compensate if the bigs are slowed a little more this time. 

I like this San Francisco team a lot, and they are not going to roll over for the Zags, especially at home. Gonzaga is a tough matchup for the Dons (understatement!) because they have to size to match up with Massalski and it bothered him the last time around. Bouyea is a very nice compliment, but the Dons need both of their top guys clicking if they want to take down the giants of the WCC. It is just not going to happen Thursday. 

Look for Gonzaga to cover, winning by 12 or 13 points.