The No. 5 seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs and the No. 12 seeded McNeese Cowboys face off in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Thursday. This is the Cowboys’ third appearance in the tournament in school history and first since 2002. Gonzaga has participated in the tournament every year since 1999.
Tipoff from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City is scheduled for 7:25 p.m. ET. The latest McNeese State vs. Gonzaga odds from SportsLine consensus have the Bulldogs as 7-point favorites, while the over/under for the total score is 149.5. Before making any Gonzaga vs. McNeese State picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven model.
The model simulates each Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters the 2024 NCAA Tournament on a 148-106 roll over all of last season’s top-rated college basketball picks, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It also has a strong 29-19 (+810) record on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone who has followed has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on McNeese State vs. Gonzaga. You can head over to SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Gonzaga vs. McNeese State:
- Gonzaga vs. McNeese State Spread: Bulldogs -7
- Gonzaga vs. McNeese State Over/Under: 149.5 points
- Gonzaga vs. McNeese State Money Line: Bulldogs -296, Cowboys +237
- MCNS: 16-13 ATS this season
- Gonz: 15-16 ATS this season
- Gonzaga vs. McNeese State picks: Watch picks on SportsLine
Why Gonzaga Can Cover
Senior forward Anton Watson brings a different element to the Bulldogs. Watson has active hands and tremendous upper body strength that allows him to absorb contact in the lane. He also plays suffocating defense. The Washington native is averaging 14.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game and shooting 57% from the field. In his last game, Watson had 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Junior guard Ryan Nembhard is a playmaker with great court vision to get his teammates involved. Nembhard may thread the needle but will score when needed. The Ontario native is averaging 12.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. He has recorded a double-double in three consecutive games. In the WCC Final vs. Saint Mary’s, Nembhard had 13 points and 11 assists. See which team to pick on SportsLine.
Why might McNeese State cover?
Senior guard Shahada Wells has been one of the best performers on this team. Wells has tremendous speed to get the ball in the lane, but can knock down perimeter jumpers. The Texas native averaged 17.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. In his previous outing, Wells averaged 27 points, four rebounds and six assists.
Junior forward Christian Shumate is a powerful two-way force in the paint. Shumate uses his strength to create space between opposing players and has a soft touch around the rim. The Illinois native is averaging 11.9 points and 9.5 rebounds and making 55% of his shot attempts. Shumate scored 11 points, six rebounds and four blocks in a win over Nicholls on March 13. See which team to pick on SportsLine.
How to Pick McNeese State vs. Gonzaga
The model is predicting 156 joint points in total. It also states that one side of the spread affects about 70% of the time. You can watch the selection only on SportsLine.
So who wins in Gonzaga vs. McNeese State, and which side of the spread gets hit nearly 70% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you should jump on, all from a computer model that is 29-19 on the top-rated college basketball spread picks this season.
