Norfolk State vs. Gonzaga Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Mar. 20, 2021

Thom Cunningham
NCAA BK Expert
VegasInsider.com

Norfolk State vs. Gonzaga Predictions

There's no reason Gonzaga should drop this game, but covering 33.5 points is a lot even for a team that averages over 90 points per game. With that said, there is a lot of justification for taking Gonzaga to cover by 35 points. It's unlikely Norfolk State's defense will hold Gonzaga to under 90 points, while the Spartans average roughly 75 points per game themselves.

Assuming Gonzaga can implement their 13th-best defensive efficiency on Norfolk State, the Spartans should max out around 65 points. With that said, the point total going OVER is actually the best wager to consider. Gonzaga has only covered half of its games this season, and usually see incredibly high spreads.

The combined O/U for both schools is 26-22, so it seems there is reason to take Gonzaga touching 90 and Norfolk State touching 60 as a top wager in this game.

• Score Prediction: Gonzaga 95 Norfolk State 61
• Best Bets - Side: Gonzaga -33.5
• Best Bets - Total: OVER 155

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Norfolk State vs. Gonzaga Betting Odds

Line Moves

• Spread: Gonzaga -33.5
• Total: 155
• Money-Line: Gonzaga -10000 Norfolk State +2000

Odds to Win NCAA Tournament

• Norfolk State 2000/1
• Gonzaga 2/1

Odds to Win West Region

• Norfolk State 100/1
• Gonzaga 4/7

Odds Subject to Change

First Round Predictions

Saturday's Early Action - Mar. 20 5 vs. 12 4 vs. 13 3 vs. 14 8 vs. 9 1 vs. 16 5 vs. 12 2 vs. 15 6 vs. 10

Handicapping Norfolk State vs. Gonzaga

The high spread for Gonzaga, along with the fact both schools favor going OVER the point total, should guide you into the point total market first. The Bulldogs have gone OVER the point total in six of its last seven games, while Norfolk State has only gone OVER once in its last seven games.

Norfolk has covered the spread in six straight games, along with eight times over its last nine games. Add that with the high -33.5-point spread, which has climbed to 35 with some sportsbooks already, the conviction lies with Gonzaga scoring points.

Norfolk has scored 71 points or more in four of its last five games too, so wagering on Gonzaga's high-octane offense and Norfolk State to touch 60 seems to be the best play here. That should equate to a point total OVER 155.

• Region: West
• Matchup: 1 vs. 16
• Venue: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
• Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
• Date: Mar. 20, 2021
• TV-Time: TBS - 9:20 p.m. (ET)

Handicapping Resources: March Madness Central | NCAA Consensus Picks

Betting Stats & Analysis - Norfolk State Spartans

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

The Spartans were able to fend off a late Appalachian State surge to get the First Four win on Thursday. Jalen Hawkins had the hot-hand for Norfolk State, scoring 24 points off the bench and shooting 80% from three-point territory.

The Spartans shot 38.9% from three-point land against Appalachian State, but only two players scored a double-digit point total. In fact, Hawkins was the only Spartan to score over 10 points in the game.

If Norfolk's offense struggles again, then Gonzaga will easily cover the spread. However, the tempo is much faster with Gonzaga so the scoring should pick up for Norfolk State.

Seed: 16
Conference: MEAC
Bid: Auto

• SU: 17-7
• ATS: 13-9
• O/U: 12-10

• Current Form (Last 5): 5-0 SU, 5-0 ATS, 1-4 O/U
• Notable Wins: None

• PS/G: 75.2 (81st)
• PA/G: 69.2 (143rd)
• Off Rtg: 103.9 (136th)
• Def Rtg: 95.6 (65th)

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Betting Stats & Analysis - Gonzaga Bulldogs

The best bet to make with the Bulldogs is that they will score points. This is why the point total has gone OVER so many times for Gonzaga, scoring 82 points or more in seven of its last eight games.

The offense ranks first nationally in multiple categories, most importantly points scored per game. They are the only team nationally to average over 90 points per game. The also rank first in field goal percentage (55.1%), two-point percentage (63.9%), they rank ninth in free throws made per game (16.5) and rank 3rd in assists per game (18.3).

Seed: 1
Conference: WCC
Bid: Auto

• SU: 26-0
• ATS: 12-12-2
• O/U: 14-12

• Current Form (Last 5): 5-0 SU, 2-3 ATS, 4-1 O/U
• Notable Wins: Kansas, West Virginia, Iowa, Virginia, BYU (x3)

• PS/G: 92.1 (1st)
• PA/G: 69.1 (139th)
• Off Rtg: 122.4 (1st)
• Def Rtg: 91.8 (17th)

First Round Predictions

Saturday's Late Action - Mar. 20 2 vs. 15 7 vs. 10 4 vs. 13 8 vs. 9 1 vs. 16 6 vs. 11 3 vs. 14 7 vs. 10

Key Players to Watch

Joe Bryant, Jr. was the only other Spartan to tally double-digit points against Appalachian State. Bryant Jr. averages about 11 points per game, while DeVante Carter averages a team-high 15 points. He struggles on Thursday, as Hawkins was able to pick up the slack.

Corey Kispert and Jalen Suggs are two NBA Lottery prospects for the Bulldogs, while big man Drew Timme adds another scoring factor. Joel Ayayi is often forgotten about as well, but averages 11.8 points peer game with seven boards too.

• NORF - DeVante Carter (15 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4 APG)
• NORF - Joe Bryant Jr. (11.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG)

• ZAGA - Corey Kispert (19.2 PPG, 4.9 RPG)
• ZAGA - Drew Timme (18.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG)

March Madness Records & Trends

Norfolk State Spartans

• All-Time Record: 2-1
• Last Appearance: 2012
• Deepest Run: Third Round (2012)

-- Norfolk State has allowed exactly 84 points in two straight NCAA Tournament games.
-- Norfolk State has covered the spread in seven of its last eight games.
-- Norfolk State has gone UNDER the point total in five of its last six games.

Gonzaga Bulldogs

• All-Time Record: 34-22
• Last Appearance: 2019
• Deepest Run: Final Runner-up (2017)

-- Gonzaga has won 10 of its last 13 NCAA Tournament games.
-- Gonzaga has reached the Sweet 16 in five straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
-- Gonzaga has been eliminated by an ACC school in four of its last five NCAA Tournament appearances.
-- Gonzaga has won 26 straight games.
-- Gonzaga has failed to cover the spread in three of its last four games.
-- Gonzaga has gone OVER the point total six of its last seven games.

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