Texas Longhorns vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

2 minute read

Nov. 13, 2021

Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Texas Longhorns (1-0) and Gonzaga Bulldogs (1-0) meet Saturday at the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Wash. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. and the game can be viewed on ESPN2.

Score Prediction

Gonzaga 83, Texas 72

Best Bets

Gonzaga -8.5 (-110)

Over 155 (-110)

Texas Longhorns vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Predictions

The Longhorns opened the season with a convincing 92-48 victory over Houston Baptist on Tuesday night in Austin, covering a 37.5-point number as the UNDER (153) comfortably cashed. F Dylan Disu (knee) didn't play in the opener against HBU, but the transfer from Vanderbilt is nearing a return. He has been practicing in full, and head coach Chris Beard told CBSSports.com reporter Jon Rothstein that Disu will play "sooner rather than later." Disu posted 15.0 PPG and 9.2 RPG for the Commodores in 2020-21, so he'll be a welcome addition to the Longhorns frontcourt.

The Zags put it on Dixie State in the home opener, winning 97-63, although Gonzaga failed to cover the 40-point number. Like Texas, Gonzaga hit the UNDER (167.5) in its opener, too. Four players went for double digits in points, with C Chet Holmgren posted 14 points, 13 rebounds and six assists while swatting a ridiculous seven shots. G Julian Strawther joined the big man in the double-double club with 17 points and 10 boards. G Rasir Bolton ended up converting three of his four attempts from behind the arc, finishing with 15 points, three rebounds and three assists in his 28 minutes while shooting an efficient 5-for-7 overall.

This is the first meeting between these institutions since Nov. 26, 2017, a 76-71 win by Gonzaga in overtime. The Bulldogs also won the only other meeting Dec. 2, 2006, an 87-77 count. The OVER has hit in each previous meeting.

Texas Longhorns vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Texas Longhorns vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Resources

• Matchup: Big 12 vs. WCC
• Date: Saturday, November 13, 2021
• Venue: McCarthey Athletic Center
• Location: Spokane, Washington
• TV-Time: ESPN2 - 10:30 p.m. ET

• Injury Report
• Wooden Award Odds
• Conference Futures Market
• Power Rankings

Texas Longhorns Betting Analysis

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

• SU: 1-0
• ATS: 1-0
• O/U: 0-1

We don't have a lot to go off, other than the Houston Baptist game this season. And these two teams haven't met very frequently. In fact, it's just the third-ever meeting. The Longhorns were a good road team last season, at least against the number, cashing in 10 of their final 14 away from Austin, and Texas has hit the number in 20 of the past 28 as a road underdog.

Looking at the totals, the 'Horns cashed the UNDER in the opener vs. HBU. The UNDER is 4-1 in the past five games for Texas against a team with a winning percentage over .600, for which Gonzaga is included at 1-0. Texas will need to use the same kind of balanced scoring and sound defense it had in the first game if it wants to drop Gonzaga, but that's a much, much taller order obviously. The Bulldogs are stacked again.

Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Analysis

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

• SU: 1-0
• ATS: 0-1
• O/U: 0-1

Gonzaga looked to be in mid-season form in the opener, albeit against Dixie State. The Bulldogs flirted with triple digits, and the defense was rather sound, holding DSU to 35% shooting (23-for-65), including 8-for-22 shooting from behind the arc. It also helped that Dixie State was god-awful from the free-throw line, going just 9-for-21. Texas will obviously be much better at the line.

Dixie State also turned it over 20 times against Gonzaga, so don't expect the Bulldogs to be as fortunate in that department, either. In addition, the Zags blocked nine shots against the undersized Trailblazers, including seven rejections from Holmgren. The size differential against Texas should be closed up rather significantly.

The Bulldogs have cashed the UNDER in four of the past five true home games, while hitting the UNDER in four of the past five as a favorite.

Christian Bishop was one of six Texas players to score in double digits vs. Houston Baptist on Tuesday. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Texas Longhorns

• Record: 1-0
• VI Ranking: 15
• PS/G: 92.0
• PA/G: 48.0
• ORtg: 31.0
• DRtg: 27.0

Inside the Stats - Gonzaga Bulldogs

• Record: 1-0
• VI Ranking: 1
• PS/G: 97.0
• PA/G: 63.0
• ORtg: 44.0
• DRtg: 32.0

Key Players to Watch

• TEX: Christian Bishop - F (10.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.0 BPG)
• TEX: Marcus Carr - G (10.0 PPG, 7.0 APG, 3.0 RPG)
• ZAGA: Chet Holmgren - C (14.0 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 7.0 BPG)
• ZAGA: Drew Timme - F (11.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG)

Texas Longhorns vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Conclusion

Gonzaga is deep again this season, especially in the frontcourt. Timme is an NBA prospect looking to make noise at the next level, but he has unfinished business in Spokane first. Gonzaga has won the only two previous meetings, but that can mostly be tossed out since none of the players, and just one of the coaches, were around the last time these schools met on the hardwood.

However, Gonzaga is 2-0 in the all-time series, and they will get it done again in this battle of ranked teams. Texas is going to be a team to be heard from this season, but right now Gonzaga has a little more depth and a lot more cohesiveness. I expect Gonzaga to get this one into the paint early and often, looking to push around Texas like it did against Dixie State. It won't be nearly as easy, but Holmgren and Timme should still excel.

Texas Longhorns vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Trends

• Texas is 6-1 ATS in the past seven games overall.
• Texas is 10-4 ATS in the past 14 road games.
• Texas is 9-3 ATS in the past 12 as an underdog.
• The UNDER is 4-1 in Gonzaga's past five home games.

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