Georgia vs Gonzaga March Madness Clash: First Round Predictions & Props for SEC-WCC Showdown
The No. 9 Georgia Bulldogs (20-12) face the No. 8 Gonzaga Bulldogs (25-8) in the first round of March Madness. Despite Georgia's SEC pedigree, Gonzaga enters as 6.5-point favorites after winning the WCC Tournament.
Two basketball players battle for ball
Key Team Stats:
- Gonzaga: 9-1 SU in last 10 games
- Georgia: 5-5 SU in last 10 games
- Tip-off: March 20, 4:30 pm ET in Wichita, KS
- Game total: 150.5 points
Key Players:
- Gonzaga: Graham Ike (17.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG), Ryan Nembhard (10.8 PPG, 9.8 APG)
- Georgia: Asa Newell (15.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG), Silas Demary (13.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG)
Analysis: Gonzaga brings more tournament experience and momentum after their WCC Tournament victory over Saint Mary's. However, Georgia has proven they can compete with elite teams, with wins over Florida, Kentucky, and St. John's this season.
Analytics Predictions:
- KenPom: Gonzaga 78-72
- Haslametrics: Gonzaga 77.94-72.01
- BartTorvik: Gonzaga 77-73
Best Bets:
- Spread: Georgia +6.5 (-105)
- Player Prop: Asa Newell under 15.5 points (-135)
Reasoning: Georgia has faced tougher competition in the SEC and matches up well with Gonzaga's style. For props, Newell faces a strong Gonzaga defense (29th in efficiency) and has topped 15.5 points just once in his last five games.
The line looks slightly inflated given Georgia's quality wins and tournament-tested roster through SEC play. While Gonzaga should win, expect a closer game than the spread suggests.