CBB Weekend Betting: Gonzaga Hits Spotlight
The top two teams in the nation both get ranked matchups this weekend, starting with the No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs visiting the No. 20 Saint Mary’s Gaels.
Before facing the Gaels on Saturday, the Bulldogs will take on the Loyola Marymount Lions on Thursday night. They will carry a 24-game winning streak into that matchup, during which they are 17-5-1 against the spread.
Saint Mary’s is also in action Thursday night against the Portland Pilots. The Gaels have won their last six games straight up with a 3-3 ATS mark. At home the Gaels are on a nine-game winning streak, going only 3-3 ATS in games with betting lines.
Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s met up earlier this season on January 14 and the Bulldogs rolled in a 79-56 win as 5-point favorites at the Bovada sportsbook. Including that win Gonzaga is 10-2 SU and ATS in their last 12 versus the Gaels.
The No. 2 ranked Villanova Wildcats also hit the road Saturday to face the No. 24 Xavier Musketeers.
Villanova last took the floor on Tuesday when they defeated the Georgetown Hoyas 75-64 as a 14.5-point favorite. The win was their fourth in a row, but by failing to cover they’ve lost six straight ATS.
Xavier hosted the DePaul Blue Demons on Wednesday and posted a 72-61 win as a 15-point favorite at Bovada. The Musketeers are on a four-game winning streak SU, but they’re a lackluster 1-4 ATS in their last five and 2-7 ATS in their last nine.
On January 10 Villanova crushed Xavier 79-54 as an 8-point favorite. With that win the Wildcats improved to 7-1 SU and ATS in their last eight versus the Musketeers.
Also on Saturday, the No. 4 Louisville Cardinals will look to rebound from a loss earlier in the week when the face the Miami Hurricanes.
A short-handed Cardinals squad lost to the Virginia Cavaliers 71-55 as a 6.5-point underdog on Monday. That loss snapped a six-game ATS winning streak. Louisville was missing guard Quentin Snider, forward Deng Adel and centre Mangok Mathiang, but all three are expected back for Saturday.
Miami took care of the Virginia Tech Hokies 74-68 as a 6.5-point favorite on Wednesday. They’re 4-1 SU in their last five, but have been horrible ATS all season at 7-15. They’re also 3-9 ATS at home.
Miami defeated Louisville 73-65 as a 2-point home favorite last season. Before that loss the Cardinals had won four in a row versus the Hurricanes at 3-1 ATS.