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UCLA and Gonzaga Clash in March Madness Sweet 16 MatchUp Betting

UCLA Bruins vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Analysis and CashBet Sportsbook Odds

It is true that UCLA fans always believe their Bruins should be a March Madness betting superpower.  And head coach Mick Cronin is wasting no time meeting those demands.  To show, the Bruins have re-established themselves as a national power.  This week, UCLA will enter the Sweet Sixteen for the third consecutive season.  Last weekend UCLA successfully took out UNC Ashville.  Following that tilt was a win over Northwestern in the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament.  Now comes a Thursday Sweet Sixteen matchup against the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

UCLA Bruins vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Information

Date: Thursday, March 23, 2023
Time: 9:45 p.m. ET
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
TV Coverage: CBS

UCLA Bruins vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Odds

Team SP/RL TOTAL ML
UCLA -2 ( -110 ) 145½ ( -110 ) -135
Gonzaga +2 ( -110 ) 145½ ( -110 ) +115
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UCLA vs. Gonzaga CashBet Wagering Analysis

Both of these teams are popular top online sportsbook brands.  Still, UCLA is a bigger brand from a power conference.  At the same time, Gonzaga is at their best as an underdog.  Especially against a power brand.

UCLA Bosses Cashier’s Cage

UCLA got the money in five of its last seven games.  Also, the Bruins went over the 2023 March Madness Betting total in five of those games.  Jaime Jaquez leads UCLA with 17.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

Overall, the UCLA Bruins are 27-4 straight up, 18-12-1 against the spread, and 15-16 over/under the total.  UCLA has national rankings of 119th for scoring offense, 84th for field goal percentage, 149th for 3-point field goal percentage, 176th for free throw percentage, and 120th for offensive rebounding.

While defensively, UCLA has national rankings of 7th for scoring defense, 31st for field goal percentage permitted, 46th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 50th for defensive rebounding.

Overall, in UCLA’s 69-63 victory over Northwestern on Saturday night, the game was never in doubt.  Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 24 points, and UCLA withstood a second-half push from Northwestern to return to the Sweet 16.  The second-seeded Bruins turned up the defensive intensity late.  To illuminate, they held the seventh-seeded Wildcats to 1-for-12 shooting during a key late-game stretch to seal the win.  UCLA made it to a third straight Sweet 16 for the first time in 15 years.

Additionally, Amari Bailey added 14 points, and Tyger Campbell scored 12 for UCLA.  Boo Buie scored 18 points to lead Northwestern, Matthew Nicholson added 17, and Chase Audige scored 16 in the second half.

The Wildcats ended their second trip to the tournament in the same fashion as the first six years ago.  Correlate that they lost in the second round.  They put up a good fight against the more tournament-tested Bruins.  And they had a chance until going cold from the field late in the game.

UCLA controlled the game early and built the big lead by neutralizing Northwestern’s high-scoring backcourt of Buie and Audige and getting Jaquez out in transition.

Audige got going in the second half with 14 points in the first eight minutes.  The Wildcats tied it at 45 when Buie was credited with a basket on a goaltending call midway through the half.  But the Wildcats couldn’t keep pace.

Zags Lose Money While Winning Games  

Late on, Gonzaga has gotten the cash in one of its last four outings.  The Zags went under the bet on NCAA basketball total in three of those games.  Gonzaga scored wins over Grand Canyon and TCU in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.  Namely, Drew Timme leads Gonzaga with 21.1 points, 3.2 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per contest.

Accordingly, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are 26-5 straight up, 12-17-1 against the spread, and 19-11 over/under the total.  Gonzaga has national rankings of 1st for scoring offense, 1st for field goal percentage, 17th for 3-point field goal percentage, 251st for free throw percentage, and 71st for offensive rebounding.

While defensively, Gonzaga has national rankings of 287th for scoring defense, 262nd for field goal percentage permitted, 246th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 279th for defensive rebounding.

UCLA vs. Gonzaga CashBet Free Pick  

In this situation, Gonzaga is a dangerous and capable 2023 March Madness Betting value.

UCLA vs. Gonzaga CashBet Best Bet

Gonzaga Bulldogs

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