Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Picks, Predictions, Odds

Dec. 4, 2021
Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Alabama Crimson Tide (6-1) take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs (7-1) in a neutral-site battle at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Saturday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on ESPN2.

Score Prediction

Gonzaga 88, Alabama 77

Best Bets

Gonzaga -7.5 (-110) BetMGM

Over 160.5 (-110) BetMGM

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Predictions

The Crimson Tide head into this game which is essentially a measuring-stick game. We already know what Gonzaga is capable of doing.

Alabama posted a 96-64 neutral-site victory against Miami last time out, treating the Hurricanes basketball team in the same manner the football teams treated each other in August. The Tide easily covered a 9.5-point number. Keon Ellis registered 22 points with four rebounds, two assists and five 3-pointers, one of four players with 13 or more points in the blowout. Jaden Shackelford registered 15 points, all on five triples, while adding three rebounds. The Tide was a very efficient 54% (37-of-69) from the field, and they were bombs away from downtown, going 16-of-30, or a whopping 53%. The Crimson Tide posted 22 assists with just 11 turnovers while flirting with the century mark.

Gonzaga rolled to a 20-point win over UCLA on Nov. 23, covering a seven-point number in a 1 vs. 2 matchup at the time. Duke then faced the Zags in Las Vegas and won an entertaining 84-81 game, and casual basketball fans everywhere are hoping we see those two teams meet again down the road. The Bulldogs returned home to face Tarleton State on Nov. 29, and they were noticeably sluggish. The Texans went with a smallish, four-guard rotation, working hard on every possession to give the Bulldogs a legitimate scare. They ended up winning the game just 64-55, easily its lowest scoring output of the season, and it might be a blueprint future opponents try and follow to slay the giant.

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Odds

  • Alabama +320
  • Gonzaga -400
  • Alabama +8.5 (-110)
  • Gonzaga -8.5 (-110)
  • Over 160.5 (-110)
  • Under 160.5 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Resources

  • Matchup: SEC vs. WCC
  • Date: Saturday, December 4, 2021
  • Venue: Climate Pledge Arena
  • Location: Seattle, Washington
  • TV-Time: ESPN2 - 8:00 p.m. ET

Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Analysis

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

  • SU: 6-1
  • ATS: 5-2
  • O/U: 4-3

This will be the fourth consecutive neutral-site game for the Crimson Tide. Alabama lost the first of those games in Central Florida against Iona, falling 72-68 to Rick Pitino's Gaels of the MAAC in an NCAA Tournament revenge game. The Crimson Tide bounced back nicely against Drake, winning 80-71 to cover a 6.5-point number before absolutely blasting Miami 96-64. The OVER has come in across the past two after a 3-0 UNDER streak.

Alabama will be looking to break out against Gonzaga. They love to run, going for 85.7 PPG to rank 11th in the country, while checking in 40th with 48.5% from the field. If there is one area which needs a lot of work, especially when facing a marquee opponent, it's Alabama's lack of detail at the free-throw line. They're a dismal 64.9%, or just 313th in the nation.

Defensively, the Tide might be only a mere bump in the road. They're allowing 69.4 PPG, which is just 201st in the country, or very mediocre. If Alabama does on thing well, it's guard the perimeter, limiting the opposition to just 25.3%, good for 15th overall.

Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Analysis

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

  • SU: 7-1
  • ATS: 4-4
  • O/U: 3-5

Gonzaga was sluggish last time, and the Zags have failed to cover in back-to-back games for the first time this season. You need not look far for its last streak of three or more non-covers, as Gonzaga was 0-3-1 ATS from Jan. 7-16 last season.

The Bulldogs will be playing their fourth game on a neutral-site floor this season. They're 2-1 SU/ATS, with two OVER results in the three previous games this season. Gonzaga is 12-5 ATS across the past 17 neutral-site games.

Gonzaga will look to use its strength down low, especially since Alabama is top-notch in perimeter defense. The Bulldogs have a couple of the best bigs in the nation with Chet Holmgren and Drew Timme. Holmgren has not only scored 13.8 PPPG, but he has 7.0 RPG and 3.5 BPG, while Timme is good for 17.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 2.4 APG through his eight games. The National Player of the Year candidate leads the team in scoring.


Jaden Shackelford leads the Crimson Tide with 18.0 PPG while adding 6.4 RPG and 1.4 APG. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Alabama Crimson Tide

  • Record: 6-1
  • VI Ranking: 34
  • PS/G: 85.7
  • PA/G: 69.4
  • ORtg: 41.3
  • DRtg: 32.0

Inside the Stats - Gonzaga Bulldogs

  • Record: 7-1
  • VI Ranking: 4
  • PS/G: 86.8
  • PA/G: 62.5
  • ORtg: 39.0
  • DRtg: 26.4

Key Players to Watch

  • BAMA: Keon Ellis - G (13.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.7 SPG)
  • BAMA: Jaden Shackelford - G (18.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 39.1 3P%)
  • ZAGA: Chet Holmgren - C (13.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.5 BPG, 2.5 APG)
  • ZAGA: Drew Timme - F (17.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.4 APG, 62.2 FG%)

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Conclusion

The Crimson Tide aren't nearly as battle-tested as their counterparts. Yes, Alabama has a win over an ACC team, but the Hurricanes won't be confused with Duke or Carolina anytime soon. Alabama's up-tempo offense is very good, and they'll definitely give Gonzaga all it can handle at times in this game, and they might even try and use the same blueprint Tarleton State used to slow the Bulldogs.

Gonzaga has marquee wins over Texas and UCLA already, and it just ran out of gas against Duke in a higher-scoring affair. Like the Tide, the Bulldogs are likely going to want to fire out of the chute and run a little after being frustrated last time out against the Texans. The Bulldogs scored more than 22 points fewer than their season average in their sluggish win. The Bulldogs rank second in the nation with 54.4 FG%, and they're eighth in the country at 86.8 PPG. I think Gonzaga uses its size advantage to pull away from Alabama in the second half.

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Trends

  • Alabama is 5-2 ATS across the past seven games overall.
  • Gonzaga is 12-5 ATS across the past 17 neutral-site games.
  • The OVER is 4-1 in Alabama's past five neutral-site games.
  • The OVER is 15-7 in Gonzaga's past 22 neutral-site games.