Loyola Marymount vs Gonzaga Odds, Picks and Predictions: Bulldogs Cruise in WCC Showdown

The Gonzaga Bulldogs welcome the Loyola Marymount Lions to the McCarthey Athletic Center in NCAA basketball action on Tuesday night. The Bulldogs have dropped out of the AP Top 25 but still boast an impressive 15-5 record, while the Lions are a game below .500.

While this isn't the same dominant Gonzaga team from the last few years, the Bulldogs remain 15.5-point home favorites in tonight's college basketball odds. Here are my best free college basketball picks and predictions for Loyola Marymount vs. Gonzaga on January 30.

Loyola Marymount vs Gonzaga best odds

Loyola Marymount vs Gonzaga picks and predictions

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are 4-8 against the spread in their last 12 games and are coming off a road victory against Pacific, where they didn't come close to covering as 24.5-point chalk. However, while the Zags have struggled to cover the spread on the road, they've still been destroying subpar opponents inside the confines of McCarthey Athletic Center.

The Loyola Marymount Lions are certainly a subpar opponent, having lost six of their last nine games. They've suffered plenty of lopsided defeats this season, losing by double digits to Stephen F. Austin, Nevada, Tarleton State, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

There's a massive disparity in talent and athleticism between these teams, which is best summed up by the fact that Loyola Marymount's best player is Dominick Harris (14.7 points per game), who spent the last two seasons warming the bench at Gonzaga. The Lions also possess a backcourt with below-average length and they do a poor job of pressuring ball-handlers, ranking just 354th in opponent turnover rate. 

The Lions prefer to play at a sluggish tempo, but they can't slow down high-octane attacks, so expect the Zags to dictate the pace here. That means that Gonzaga should be able to run up the score at home.

The Zags haven't been shooting well from 3-point range, but they also rarely take shots from deep. They prefer to shoot closer to the rim where they've been extremely efficient, ranking 14th in the country in 2-point percentage (57.5%), with that ticking up to 59.8% at home.

They also defend extremely well inside the arc, ranking 25th in the country in opponent 2PT% (44.8%). Meanwhile, the Lions are just 234th in 2PT% (49.0%), with that number dipping to 46.3% on the road. 

The Lions won't be able to keep up with Gonzaga's highly efficient offense tonight. 

My best bet: Gonzaga -15.5 (-110 at DraftKings)

Loyola Marymount vs Gonzaga same-game parlay

Gonzaga -15.5

Gonzaga first half -9

Over 152.5

+325 at DraftKings

I'm expecting a Zags rout tonight, which has me backing them both on the full game and the first-half spread in this SGP. Keep in mind that Gonzaga is seventh in the country in first-half scoring (41.9 ppg), while boasting an average first-half scoring margin of +13.0 ppg at home.

I'm also expecting the Zags to be able to control the tempo and force the Lions into a faster pace than they prefer. In addition, once the Lions fall into a hole, I expect them to rely on their 3-point shooting to claw back. That's actually a strength of Loyola Marymount (Top 80 in the country in both 3-pointers made per game and 3PT%), and a chink in Gonzaga's defensive armor. 

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Loyola Marymount vs Gonzaga spread and Over/Under analysis

The Zags opened as 16.5-point home favorites but money has come in on the visitors, slimming the spread to -15.5. The Over/Under has stayed steady at 152.5. 

Two weeks ago, Gonzaga lost a nail-biter to Santa Clara on the road and subsequently dropped out of the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2016. That said, the Bulldogs have had a very tough non-conference schedule and currently sit 22nd in the KenPom ratings after reeling off four straight wins.

When favored by double digits at home, the Zags have gone 4-3 against the spread. In two of those ATS losses, the Bulldogs narrowly missed out on covering despite hammering Jackson State by 24 points and blowing out Mississippi Valley State by 38.

The Lions are coming off a 70-65 road loss to a strong Saint Mary's squad. They easily covered the spread as 16.5-point pups in that contest and have now gone 5-1 ATS in their last six games. 

Loyola Marymount vs Gonzaga betting trend to know

The Over is 11-3 in Gonzaga's last 14 games at home. Find more college basketball betting trends for Gonzaga vs. Loyola Marymount.

Loyola Marymount vs Gonzaga game info

Loyola Marymount vs Gonzaga key injuries

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