The No. 5 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs and the No. 12 seed McNeese Cowboys square off in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Thursday. This is the Cowboys' third appearance in the tournament in school history and the first time since 2002. Gonzaga has made the tournament every year since 1999.
Tipoff from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City is set for 7:25 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs are 7-point favorites in the latest McNeese State vs. Gonzaga odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 149.5. Before making any Gonzaga vs. McNeese State picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters the 2024 NCAA tournament on a 148-106 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It also has a strong 29-19 (+810) record on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on McNeese State vs. Gonzaga. You can head to SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Gonzaga vs. McNeese State:
- Gonzaga vs. McNeese State spread: Bulldogs -7
- Gonzaga vs. McNeese State over/under: 149.5 points
- Gonzaga vs. McNeese State money line: Bulldogs -296, Cowboys +237
- MCNS: 16-13 ATS this season
- GONZ: 15-16 ATS this season
- Gonzaga vs. McNeese State picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Gonzaga can cover
Senior forward Anton Watson brings a different element to the Bulldogs. Watson has active hands and great upper body strength which allows him to absorb contact in the lane. He also plays suffocating defense. The Washington native averages 14.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game and shoots 57% from the field. In his last game, Watson had 18 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
Junior guard Ryan Nembhard is a playmaker with great court vision to get his teammates involved. Nembhard can thread the needle but will score when needed. The Ontario native averages 12.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per matchup. He's notched a double-double in three straight games. In the WCC final versus Saint Mary's, Nembhard had 13 points and 11 assists. See which team to pick at SportsLine.
Why McNeese State can cover
Senior guard Shahada Wells is one of the most productive performers on this squad. Wells has tremendous speed with the ball to get into the lane but can knock down perimeter jumpers. The Texas native logs 17.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. In his previous outing, Wells notched 27 points, four rebounds and six assists.
Junior forward Christian Shumate is a powerful two-way force in the paint. Shumate uses his strength to create space from opposing players and owns a soft touch around the rim. The Illinois native averages 11.9 points and 9.5 rebounds and makes 55% of his shot attempts. In the March 13 win over Nicholls, Shumate amassed 11 points, six rebounds and four blocks. See which team to pick at SportsLine.
How to make McNeese State vs. Gonzaga picks
The model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 156 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits nearly 70% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Gonzaga vs. McNeese State, and which side of the spread hits nearly 70% of the time? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the computer model that is 29-19 on top-rated college basketball spread picks this season.
