Gonzaga has accomplished just about everything possible as a men’s basketball program except for the one true goal: A national championship. For the second straight year, the Zags are the No. 1 overall seed and betting favorite to win the NCAA Tournament and they open play Thursday in the First Round of the West Region against No. 16 Georgia State. The winner will face either No. 8 Boise State or No. 9 Memphis on Saturday. This spread is the biggest of any first-round game. The schools have met once previously, way back in 1994 when Gonzaga won easily.

Before all else, Nitrobetting takes a peek at important game details that help you lock in on the best picks. Below, you can find event information, team and player stats, and the latest College Basketball odds. We also have timely betting trends and predictions at your disposal.

Georgia State vs. Gonzaga Game Information

Time to write our next chapter ?#MarchMadness x #UnitedWeZag pic.twitter.com/jXu7HL7bQD

— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) March 17, 2022

• When: Thursday, March 17, 2022, 3:15 PM ET
• Where: Moda Center, Portland, OR
• TV: TNT
• Radio: WRAS-FM 88.5 FM (Georgia State) / 103.5 The Game FM (Gonzaga)
• Live Stream: March Madness Live
• NCAAB Betting Odds: Georgia State (+23) / Gonzaga (-23)

Why Bet on the Georgia State Panthers?

Georgia State (18-10) has won 10 straight entering the Big Dance to earn a bid, ending with an 80-71 win over Louisiana in the Sun Belt title game on March 7. Panthers senior Corey Allen, who earned Tournament Most Outstanding Performer honors, finishing with 29 points, going 5-of-6 from 3-point range and a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line.

Fellow senior Eliel Nsoseme recorded a third-straight double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds to be named to the Sun Belt All-Tournament Team for a second-straight year. It was Nsoseme’s sixth double-double of the season, 12th of his career. Senior Kane Williams added 10 points while going 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Georgia State finished 22-of-24 from the free throw line, while also shooting 10-of-15 from 3-point range. Williams will now become the first Panther in program history to play in three NCAA Tournaments.

GSU is in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time and has a 2-5 record in the Big Dance. It lost in the first round in 2019 as a No. 14 seed vs. Houston, 84-55, and lost as a No. 15 seed in 2018 to No. 2 Cincinnati, 68-53. In both NCAA Tournament wins all-time, in 2015 and 2001, GSU trailed by double figures at one point in the game.

Georgia State’s 10-game winning streak is the fourth-longest winning streak in the country. It is also tied for the third-longest winning streak in program history. Georgia State has also won 12 of its last 13 games with its lone loss coming by just four points. The Panthers have also won eight-straight road/neutral court games.

The Panthers’ Allen has 1,980 career points scored, which is No. 27 among career active scorers in the country. He is also among the top 10 active 3-point shooters with 336 treys. Williams is top 20 in Sun Belt Conference history with 490 assists. He is also in the top 5 all-time in free throws made and free throw attempts.

Why Bet on the Gonzaga Bulldogs?

Of course, Gonzaga was unbeaten entering the 2021 NCAA Tournament but lost in the final to Baylor. The Zags (26-3) only lost three times this season on the way to the WCC regular-season and tournament titles. Gonzaga is the No. 1 overall seed for the second straight season, and second time in program history. The Bulldogs receive a one-seed for the fifth time in program history, and fourth in the last five tournaments. GU is the first program to receive back-to-back number one overall seeds since Duke in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

GU is making its 23rd consecutive NCAA Tournament Appearance and 24th overall. The 23 straight berths to the field are the third-longest current streak in the nation (Kansas 32 and Michigan State 24). The Zags are 36-21 in the NCAA Tournament under head coach Mark Few with a berth in all 22 seasons.

GU has the most wins in the NCAA Tournament since 2017, going 15-4. The Bulldogs’ 20 wins in the tournament since 2015 is also the most, with Villanova second at 17, North Carolina third at 16 and Duke at 15. Gonzaga is one of only two teams to win its opening-round NCAA Tournament game each of the last 12 tournaments, Kansas is the other at 14. The Zags are the only program to appear in the last six Sweet 16s.

Led by second-team All-Americans Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren, who probably will be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Bulldogs are first in the nation in scoring offense (87.8), scoring margin (22.5), FG percentage (52.7) and defensive rebounds (32.07). Timme was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year, while Chet Holmgren was the Newcomer and Defensive Player of the Year. The Zags are first in KenPom’s rankings (first offensive efficiency and seventh efficient defense).

Georgia State vs. Gonzaga Betting Trends

• Georgia State is 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
• Georgia State is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight-up record.
• The total went under in 16 of Georgia State’s last 20 games.
• Gonzaga is 1-4-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
• Gonzaga is 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games.
• The total went under in 7 of Gonzaga’s last 9 games.

Georgia State vs. Gonzaga Expert Betting Predictions

Gonzaga 85, Georgia State 65.

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This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2021-22 NCAAB season previews and articles, and don’t forget to check out the latest college basketball odds on our online BTC sportsbook.