This time of year, college basketball betting generally takes a backseat to bowl season, especially with so many college football championship games on the docket this weekend.
But Saturday is what multiple screens were made for, because we’ve got a potential Final Four showdown between Iowa and Gonzaga, two of the best teams in the country. It’s the marquee game on a solid Top-25 slate, and even better, they’ll play at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, because why not?
Here are our best college basketball free picks and predictions for No. 1 Gonzaga at No. 3 Iowa. Tip-off is set to get underway Saturday, December 12 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Iowa Hawkeyes vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Preview
Key Injuries
Iowa: No injuries to report.
Gonzaga: Julian Strawther G (Out), Dominick Harrs G (Out).
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
Hawkeyes are 13-2-1 ATS in their last 16 neutral site games. Find more NCAA betting trends for Iowa vs. Gonzaga.
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Against the Spread (ATS) Pick
Gonzaga is the top team in the nation and hopes to deliver head coach Mark Few the only thing missing from his resume—a national championship. However, the Bulldogs’ quest for a title took a break for the past two weeks because of COVID-19 issues, and that included their highly-anticipated battle against Baylor getting canceled. Thus, they’ve only played three games this season.
The last time we saw the Zags, they escaped with an 87-82 victory against West Virginia after overcoming foul trouble and making a late 13-4 run to finally pull away. The Bulldogs rely on their outstanding tandem of Corey Kispert and Drew Timme, who average more than 45 points and 11 rebounds between them. However, freshman guard Jalen Suggs is essential to help control the high-speed tempo that the Zags like to employ.
With the Big Ten football season coming to a close, Hawkeyes fans have quickly shifted their attention to their formidable basketball team, and with good reason. Iowa is off to a perfect 6-0 start, led by brilliant National Player of the Year candidate Luke Garza. The big man is averaging 29.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.
Iowa’s biggest challenge of the season thus far was a 93-80 victory two weeks ago against North Carolina--when Tar Heels Head Coach Roy Williams used a rotation of big men to slow down Garza in the paint. It didn’t work. The Hawkeyes responded by hitting 17 three-pointers, including eight from senior guard Jordan Bohannon.
This is Iowa’s first time outside of Iowa City this season, and Gonzaga has the size advantage. Still, the layoff works against the Bulldogs here, and the Hawkeyes tend to outwork their opponents even with a smaller lineup.
PREDICTION: Iowa +3.5 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
West Virginia failed to beat the Bulldogs, but the Mountaineers certainly gave us a blueprint of how to do it—slowing down Gonzaga’s talented frontcourt and trying to get them in foul trouble. But Iowa is not West Virginia.
The Hawkeyes average 100.5 points per game, while Gonzaga averages 93.0. Both teams are also No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in adjusted offensive efficiency. The Over is 8-0 in Hawkeyes’ last nine overall and 9-1 in the Bulldogs’ last nine neutral site games. This has all the makings of a high-scoring matchup worthy of its top billing, and that’s where I’m putting my money.
PREDICTION: Over 170.5 (-120)
Iowa vs Gonzaga Betting Card
- Iowa +3.5 (-110)
- Over 170.5 (-120)
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Where Can I Bet on College Basketball?
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