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Houston was down 2-0 to SIU Edwardsville - and then everything was okay.
The 78-40 win was a light scrimmage, but the Cougars will be in for something totally different against a Gonzaga team that got up by 20 on Georgia before it got off the bus.
The Bulldogs won 89-68 hitting 12-of-20 from three and 55% from the field, but it’ll have to handle the intense defensive pressure from a Houston defense that allowed the SIUE Cougars to hit just 2-of-24 from three.
The winner of this faces the Purdue vs McNeese winner in the Sweet 16.
Houston vs Gonzaga Game Preview
Houston vs Gonzaga How To Watch
Date: Saturday, March 22
Venue: INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS
Time: Coming
TV: Coming
Teams: (8) Gonzaga (26-8), (1) Houston (31-4)
Region: Midwest
NCAA Tournament Schedule, Predictions, Previews
Why Gonzaga Will Win
The size should matter.
Houston has had to deal with being slightly undersized all season long, and it obviously wasn’t a problem. However, the Bulldogs can rotate in the bulk, and as Georgia found out, winning the rebounding battle against this bunch isn't easy.
The Gonzaga passing was terrific, the defense was fantastic right away, and the D collapsed on the inside and took away everything the Dawgs tried to do early on.
How do you beat Houston? Don’t let the Cougars get the open look for threes, and don’t turn the ball over. Gonzaga is 12th in the nation in turnovers.
Why Houston Will Win
Gonzaga won’t be nearly as comfortable from three as it was against Georgia.
The Houston defense clamps down from everywhere. It holds up well against the size on the inside, and on the other side of the court, it’s possible to attack the rim.
Georgia couldn’t do it, but Houston should be able to do it with far more success.
The Cougars are 30-1 when they make 42% or more of their shots, 1-3 when they don’t, but …
Houston vs Gonzaga: Who Will Win?
Gonzaga allows teams to hit 41.4% fro the floor.
This is a fearless Bulldog team with the all-around ability to pull this off. Houston will win if it can grind the game down to a dead stop. Gonzaga won’t let that happen.
This will be a war that comes down to big late plays. Gonzaga is third in the nation in free throw percentage. Houston is great, but it’ll miss the one the Bulldogs won’t.
Houston vs Gonzaga Prediction, Betting Lines
Prediction: Gonzaga 75, Houston 73
Houston vs Gonzaga Betting Lines
BetMGM Line: Houston -5.5, o/u: 140.5
DraftKings Line: Houston -5.5, o/u: 140.5
FanDuel Line: Houston -4.5, o/u: 140.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5
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