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College Basketball

Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read
Dec. 18, 2021
Dave Schwab
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Early college basketball betting action in Saturday’s Jerry Colangelo Classic pits the WCC’s No. 5 Gonzaga Bulldogs against the Big 12’s No. 25 Texas Tech Red Raiders as one of the more interesting matchups. Game time on CBS from the Footprint Center in Phoenix is set for 1:00 p.m. ET.

Score Prediction

Gonzaga 89, Texas Tech 76

Best Bets

Over 145.5 (-110) at BetMGM

Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Predictions

The last time Gonzaga faced Texas Tech it was on the wrong end of a 75-69 loss as a five-point favorite in the Final Four of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Many of the faces on both teams are different but that kind of devastating loss tends to linger on.

Losses to Duke and Alabama as favorites taint the Bulldogs’ straight-up 8-2 start this season. However, most college basketball experts would agree that Gonzaga is still a worthy betting favorite to win the 2022 national title.

Taking nothing away from Texas Tech as another nationally ranked team, the Red Raiders are not in the same class as Gonzaga this season. Facing each other on a neutral site only makes things tougher to try and come away with a SU win. The Bulldogs have failed to cover the closing spread in their last four games but I am expecting an inspired effort in Phoenix this Saturday afternoon to cash a winner.

Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Betting Odds

  • Gonzaga -400
  • Texas Tech +300
  • Gonzaga -8.5 (-110)
  • Texas Tech +8.5 (-110)
  • Over 145.5 (-110)
  • Under 145.5 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Betting Resources

  • Matchup: WCC vs. Big 12
  • Date: Saturday, December 18, 2021
  • Venue: Footprint Center
  • Location: Phoenix, Arizona
  • TV-Time: CBS - 1:00 p.m. ET

Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Analysis

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

  • SU: 8-2
  • ATS: 4-6
  • O/U: 4-6

Gonzaga has not played since Dec. 9 after beating Merrimack 80-55. Its game against Washington was cancelled. While rust is always a factor, added rest can sometimes be a plus. As mentioned, the Bulldogs have not been the best betting team this season at 4-6 ATS. However, sometimes you have to look past the betting trends and focus more heavily on current playing form.

This season’s roster is led by forward Drew Timme with 18.4 points per game while shooting 63.3% from the field. Guard Julian Strawther is next on the list with 14 points a game. His field goal percentage stands at 50.5 and he has connected on 41.5% of his 53 three-point attempts. Other standouts for Gonzaga include center Chet Holmgren with a team-high 8.2 rebounds and guard Andrew Nembhard with 4.9 assists and 1.5 steals a game. Overall, the Bulldogs are averaging 85.6 points a game.

They are also shooting a blazing 53% from the field. This drops to 32.9% from three-point range and 68.8% from the free throw line as the only real soft stats. Of the 42.8 rebounds a game, 11.5 are on the offense end of the court. Gonzaga is holding opposing teams to 64.6 PPG.

Texas Tech Red Raiders Betting Analysis

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

  • SU: 8-1
  • ATS: 5-4
  • O/U: 7-1-1

The Red Raiders are 8-1 SU in their first nine games with a 5-4 record ATS. The only blemish is a 72-68 loss to Providence as 2.5-point favorites. Texas Tech quickly made amends for that unexpected setback by beating Tennessee 57-52 on Dec. 7 as a four-point underdog.

The total stayed UNDER 141.5 points in Tuesday’s 75-62 victory against Arkansas State and it has now stayed UNDER in three of the team’s last five contests.

Guards’ Terrence Shannon Jr. and Kevin McCullar are each scoring 14.3 PPG as part of the Red Raiders’ 81.1-point season average. McCullar also leads the team in rebounds with 6.3 a game. Three additional players are adding at least 10 PPG to give Texas Tech some solid scoring depth. Overall, the team is shooting 47.8% from the field and 35% from three-point range. This is another team battling issues with consistency shooting free throws 67.9%.

The Red Raiders matchup well with Gonzaga under the boards with 42.1 rebounds a game. More than 15 of those average rebounds have been on offense. Their biggest edge on Saturday could be on defense with a solid points-allowed average of 58.9.


Gonzaga has failed to cover the spread in four straight games. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Gonzaga Bulldogs

  • Record: 8-2
  • VI Ranking: 4
  • PS/G: 85.6 (9th)
  • PA/G: 64.6 (99th)
  • ORtg: 117.4 (10th)
  • DRtg: 88.6 (56th)

Inside the Stats - Texas Tech Red Raiders

  • Record: 8-1
  • VI Ranking: 19
  • PS/G: 81.2 (32nd)
  • PA/G: 58.9 (23rd)
  • ORtg: 115.7 (13th)
  • DRtg: 84 (15th)

Key Players to Watch

  • ZAGA: Drew Timme - F (18.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg)
  • ZAGA: Julian Strawther - G (14 ppg, 6.5 rpg)
  • TXT: Bryson Williams - F (12.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg)
  • TXT: Kevin McCullar - G (14.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg)

Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Betting Conclusion

These are the type of games that the Bulldogs need to win with authority to highlight the non-conference portion of their schedule. Facing a quality Texas Tech team in a neutral-site setting is the last chance to do so before conference play starts after the first of the year.

Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Betting Trends

  • Gonzaga has failed to cover the spread in four straight games.
  • Texas Tech has gone OVER the point total in seven of its last nine games.
  • Texas Tech has failed to cover the spread in four of its last six games away from Lubbock.

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