Free Picks: Gonzaga’s Pursuit of Perfection

The Oklahoma Sooners played a great game against Gonzaga and still lost by 16, the Bulldogs are an absolute unit. The Creighton Bluejays made a statement after punishing 13th seeded Ohio in the Round of 32, but the Sweet Sixteen will be the end of the road for this team. And it could get real ugly.

Gonzaga has won 23 games by 15 points or more this season and have been blowing opponents out all year. The Bulldogs are the cream of the crop and I do not see Creighton as the team that will challenge that distinction. The Zags average 92.1PPG by shooting 63.6% inside the arc and converting almost 8 threes a game while shooting 37.3% from downtown. Gonzaga is so efficient offensively because 48.3% of their field goal attempts are in the paint.

Off-ball movement/cuts, elite passing and speed, embody this Gonzaga offense. They are the closest thing to an NBA offense that college basketball has seen in a long time. Everyone can shoot/pass at a high level, they play fast and they create second chances constantly. The Dogs grab 30.7% of their possible offensive rebounds and force turnovers on 20% of their opponents’ possessions. Never taking a possession off, this is Mark Few’s best team ever and they are destined for great things.

NCAAB odds have set Gonzaga’s team total at 85.5, the Zags have scored 86 or more points in 23 of their 28 games this season. They have scored 98 and 87 in their first two games of the NCAA Tournament. Creighton plays at a quicker pace than Oklahoma and Norfolk State, so I can see Gonzaga easily breaking 90. One of my free picks is over 85.5 for Gonzaga (-116 at Bet10).

Marcus Zegarowski and Denzel Mahoney in particular have really struggled for Creighton against Top 50 competition this season. This is by far the best team Creighton has played all year, and the Blue Jays will need a herculean effort to be able to hang with Gonzaga. This team has not slipped up this year and I do not see that changing here. My BetPicks best bet is Gonzaga’s spread.

• Gonzaga is 14-12-2 ATS as favourites this season
• The Over has cashed in 15 of Gonzaga’s 28 games this season
• Creighton is 2-1-0 ATS as underdogs this season
• The Under has cashed in 17 of Creighton’s 30 games this season