Kentucky vs Gonzaga Odds, Picks and Predictions: Wildcats Bring the Fight to Spokane

The Kentucky Wildcats and Gonzaga Bulldogs square off Sunday at Spokane Arena in the first-ever meeting between these college basketball titans.

Kentucky rebounded from a neutral-site overtime loss against Michigan State on Tuesday, pounding South Carolina State at Rupp Arena Thursday in a 43-point victory as the Over cashed.

Gonzaga has a little rebounding to do, too, as it was manhandled in Austin by the Texas Longhorns on Wednesday, falling 93-74.

It’s hard to believe, but one of these teams will be served a second straight-up loss before the Thanksgiving holiday. We’ll discuss who will come out on top in our college basketball picks and predictions for Kentucky vs. Gonzaga on Sunday, November 20.

Kentucky vs Gonzaga best odds

Kentucky vs Gonzaga picks and predictions

Kentucky handled its business in the South Carolina State, hitting triple digits while shooting 57% from the field, including 10 3-pointers. Oscar Tshiebwe appears back to 100% after missing the first two games of the season as a precaution while mending from a minor knee procedure. Expect Tshiebwe to be front and center in this head-to-head battle with Gonzaga and big man Drew Timme.

Tshiebwe was limited to just 14 minutes against South Carolina State, mostly as a precaution against an overwhelmed foe, but he still had six points and seven rebounds.

Really, a better barometer of where Tshiebwe is at right now would be by looking at the Michigan State showing. He had 22 points, 18 boards, and four blocked shots, and the Wildcats were right there in an OT loss. Kentucky turned the ball over 15 times, and that’s something it needs to curb, particularly in these marquee games.

Kentucky wasn’t terribly effective at the free-throw line, either, and that’s also not helpful in close games. The Wildcats shot just 67% (16 of 24) from the stripe against Michigan State, a mark that needs improvement.

Gonzaga edged the aforementioned Michigan State Spartans on the USS Abraham on November 11, edging Sparty 64-63. The Zags easily could have lost that afternoon, and they were trounced at Austin by the Longhorns in the following game.

The good news is that Timme stepped up and had 18 points, nine rebounds, and a blocked shot on 7 of 10 shooting in Austin, and Gonzaga was 49% from the field (25 of 51), which isn’t awful. However, Gonzaga turned it over 20 times, and that simply will not do. In fact, the difference in this titanic battle with Kentucky will likely be who can turn the ball over less.

To make matters worse for Gonzaga, Nolan Hickman rolled his ankle in the second half, and the starting point guard could be unavailable to play Sunday. That would change things dramatically, as Hunter Sallis and Malachi Smith would then be thrust into more prominent roles.

Both teams have had their early-season issues, but Gonzaga has a major injury in the starting lineup, and it is coming off a beatdown in Austin. The concerns look much more daunting for Mark Few’s bunch and that has the arrow pointing squarely in the favor of the visitors.

My best bet: Kentucky +3 (-109 at Pinnacle)

Kentucky vs Gonzaga spread analysis

Kentucky has covered three of its four games to date, rolling three creampuffs at home while failing to win or cover as a favorite against Michigan State in its only true test. We still aren’t sure what we have with the Wildcats.

UK has averaged 88.8 ppg while showing 3-pointers at a 42.4% clip, but it hasn’t faced a lot of resistance either. Defensively, Kentucky has played very well, limiting the opposition to 35.2% from the field. But again, it has really faced only one top-tier opponent, and covering three times against lower-tier teams doesn’t tell us much. 

We’ll get a lot more info on where Kentucky is tonight. However, with the likes of Tshiebwe, CJ Frederick, and Sahvir Wheeler, my money is easily on Kentucky to cover on the road in a tough building.

Gonzaga has failed to cover in its past two games against Michigan State and Texas. We know a lot more about the Zags than the Wildcats, and the signs haven’t been terribly promising in these early marquee games.

Beating North Florida and covering isn’t knocking anyone’s socks off. Getting paddled in Austin certainly raises some red flags.

Kentucky vs Gonzaga Over/Under analysis

The Wildcats have been stroking the three at a high rate, and their approach isn’t going to change here. Antonio Reeves had at least three triples in three of his four games, hitting at a 50.0% clip during the early going.  Frederick has also been cooking early from downtown, and that’s encouraging for those considering the Over.

For the Bulldogs, Julian Strawther dropped in three triples at Texas, and six different players scored from long distance. It will miss Hickman if he is unable to play, however, and Gonzaga’s offense is averaging just 69.0 ppg in the past two games with the starting point guard in the lineup. With or without Hickman, the Under looks like the better bet.

Both of these teams will be looking to run, score early and often, and prove themselves after looking shaky in previous marquee games. There might be some wild shots before the teams settle down late in the first half. The best bet is playing the Under and sweating it out for a winning ticket late.

Kentucky vs Gonzaga betting trend to know

The Under is 9-3-1 in Kentucky’s past 13 road games. Find more College basketball betting trends for Kentucky vs. Gonzaga.

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