Gonzaga vs. UCLA 2023 March Madness Sweet 16 Odds and Preview

By Jeff Stinger • March 21, 2023

One of the most anticipated matchups of the Sweet 16 is about to happen at the T-Mobile Arena on Thursday night. Gonzaga pulled off a narrow victory over TCU in the tournament’s second round. They barely escaped their opponents in a showcase of attacking basketball, which ended in an 84-81 final score.

Gonzaga keeps their Big Dance dreams alive and prepares for a duel with No. 2 team UCLA. The Bruins also had a close call previously and barely escaped the Northwestern Wildcats. UCLA eventually pulled through with the five-point victory to secure a 35th Sweet 16 appearance.

The Nitrobetting team is prepared to dish out key assists and passes with betting tips and news coverage throughout the 2023 March Madness tournament. This time, let’s take a closer look at the upcoming Sweet 16 between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the UCLA Bruins along with the latest game odds for this huge 2023 March Madness showdown.

Gonzaga vs. UCLA 2023 March Madness Sweet 16 Game Information

“ ‼️ .”

Revisit the Bruins' second round win against Northwestern. ️#GoBruins | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/pxG2idXBin
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) March 20, 2023

When: Thursday, March 23, 2023, 9:45 PM ET
Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
TV: CBS
Radio: Sports Diego 760 (Gonzaga) // KQSM 92.1 FM The Ticket (UCLA)
Live Stream: March Madness Live
NCAAB Betting Odds: Gonzaga (+2) // UCLA (-2)

Why Bet on the Gonzaga Bulldogs?

Gonzaga takes pride in its veteran squad. They have been playing impressive basketball since the start of the season. They most recently outplayed TCU in a closely-contested win after a relatively easy opening game against Grand Canyon University.

Center Drew Timme is one of the Bulldogs’ talismans for this contest, while guards Rasir Bolton and Malachi Smith made the difference in their previous game. Timme leads the team with averages of 21.1 points, 7.3 boards, 3.2 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game. Julian Strawther trails him with 15.3 points and 6.3 rebounds as well. As a team, the Zags lead the country in scoring with 87.3 points per game with a league-best field-goal percentage of 52.6% These are numbers enough to intimidate the best teams out there, but it remains to be seen whether or not they are effective against a refreshed Gonzaga defense.

The Bulldogs are also a menacing three-point shooting team, hitting 38.7% of their attempts from deep. Meanwhile, they fare well on the defensive side with a 17th-best ranking in blocks and 35th in rebounding. However, the only way they come out on top is if the team can connect its shooting early into the game.

Why Bet on the UCLA Bruins?

UCLA went through a late challenge versus Northwestern last weekend but ultimately suppressed the attacks to move on to the Sweet 16. It’s also uncommon to see a rematch of two compelling clashes with many of the same starters from a few years back. The script could be in favor of UCLA this time. Instead of Gonzaga breaking hearts with a buzzer-beater victory, it looks like the Bruins have the firepower this time.

Head coach Mick Cronin built up his team well this time. The Bruins are stronger, pack a lot of talent, and have more experienced players listed. Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyger Campbell take the helm. They are eager to retaliate after coming up short in the Final Four two years ago.

The Bruins are hot on both ends of the floor. They average 74.1 points per game and hold opponents to about 60 points per game. This is the sixth-best statistic in the nation. Meanwhile, UCLA holds opponents to the 20th-best field-goal percentage. While they are not a three-point-heavy team shooting the 333rd most shots from downtown, they do possess a well-balanced attack that can produce buckets in a multitude of ways.

Gonzaga vs. UCLA Betting Trends

San Diego State is 5-0 in its last five contests.
San Diego State is 4-1 against the spread in its last five games.
The totals went under in five of San Diego State’s last five games.
Alabama is 5-0 in its last five contests.
Alabama is 4-1 against the spread in its last five games.
The totals went under in four of Alabama’s last five games.

Gonzaga vs. UCLA Expert Prediction

This matchup screams Jalen Suggs’ clutch shot from their 2021 Final Four overtime brawl. The much-anticipated rematch sees two top-three teams on the floor. UCLA’s only loss since early February was a close two-point game against Arizona, and the team’s refreshed defense could make all the difference. While Gonzaga has the best offense in the country, this one should go neck-and-neck until the final minutes. The Bruins have the size and length to match up against Drew Timme. Meanwhile, if Gonzaga can contain Jaime Jaquez Jr. and veteran Tyger Campbell hits full throttle, UCLA could pull off the narrow win.

However, we will not overlook a Gonzaga upset here. Despite coming in at No. 3, there’s plenty of potential with these Bulldogs. Covering the spread shouldn’t be much of an issue and plugging the gaps to finish with a narrow win remains within arm’s reach.

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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 2022-23 NCAAB season previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest basketball betting odds on our online BTC sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.