The Gonzaga Bulldogs have a forecast 62% chance to win against The UCLA Bruins with a spread of -2.0/2.0 and an over/under of 145.5. The Gonzaga Bulldogs are 0 – 0 against The UCLA Bruins in the 2021-22 Season.
— Tuesday, November 23rd Gonzaga Bulldogs @ UCLA Bruins
No. 1 against No. 2 to kick off Thanksgiving week, and it’s a rematch of last year’s Final Four classic. Both Gonzaga and UCLA are 5-0 on the season, and they warmed up for Tuesday’s tilt with a double-digit point win on Monday. Tuesday’s game at the Good Sam Empire Classic in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas tips off at 10 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.
In the 73 years that the AP Poll has existed, this will be the 43rd matchup of No. 1 and No. 2 teams and the first since November 2020. Last year these teams played a game for the ages in April, with Jalen Suggs hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer for a 93-90 overtime winner as Gonzaga advanced to the championship game. The teams have met six times since 1999, with Gonzaga going 4-2, including a 2-1 neutral site record.
Gonzaga Firing on All Cylinders
Gonzaga made quick work of Central Michigan on Monday, their fifth-straight double-digit win to open the season. That includes a 12-point win over then No. 5 Texas on November 13, and the Zags are 3-2 ATS this season.
Gonzaga is scoring 90 points per game so far this season and allowing just 61. They lead the nation in shooting percentage at 55.1 and have grabbed just under 40 rebounds per game.
Preseason All-American Drew Timme leads Gonzaga with 20.8 ppg, and he fills the stat sheet with 5.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, and is shooting 65 percent from the field. Julian Strather is averaging 15 ppg while freshman Chet Holmgren is scoring 11 ppg and leading Gonzaga at 7.3 rpg.
In Monday’s win, Gonzaga shot 57 percent from the field but made just 9-of-32 (28%) from the 3-point range. Holmgren led five players in double figures with 19 points while Strawther had 15 and reserve freshman Nolan Hickman had 16.
Juzang Leads Bruins Into Rematch
UCLA is 3-2 ATS this season, and the over is 4-1 in their games. They beat Bellarmine by 13 on Monday, failing to cover the 23.5 point spread. The 75 points scored was a season-low for the Bruins, who average 91 ppg this season and allow 67.8.
The UCLA backcourt will have to play better on Tuesday as Tyger Campbell, and Jules Bernard combined to shoot 1-of-12 from 3-point range against Bellarmine. Overall the Bruins shot 45.2 percent from the floor and 29.6 percent from deep in their first game in Vegas.
Johnny Juzang leads UCLA in scoring so far this season at 21.5 ppg. Bernard and Jamie Jaquez Jr. both average 18 ppg, while Campbell is at 13 ppg. Jaquez leads the team in rebounding at 7.5 per game, and freshman Peyton Watson had a team-high 19 points on Monday.
Betting Analysis
- Gonzaga Bulldogs -6 (-110)
- UCLA Bruins +6 (-110)
- Total Points: 155. Over -115. Under -105
The No. 1 team is 22-20 all-time against the No. 2 team but just 11-13 in the regular season. If the game in April is a blueprint, this contest will be fast-paced and high-scoring. UCLA has topped 95 points three times this season, and they have the firepower to stay with Gonzaga, but it is tough to bet against this Zag team right now.
Betting pick: Gonzaga -6
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