The No. 6 Gonzaga Bulldogs (1-0) are aiming to build on their dominant win over Baylor as they take on the Arizona State Sun Devils (2-0) in a Sunday afternoon showdown.
Mark Few's squad has the look of a National Championship contender, while Bobby Hurley's Sun Devils may still be a step behind when it comes to facing elite competition.
In this article, I'll dive into my Arizona State vs. Gonzaga predictions for Sunday, November 10, and break down what to expect in this intriguing matchup. Read on for my college basketball picks!
Arizona State vs Gonzaga prediction
My best bet
Gonzaga -23 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
In the offseason, we knew that the Gonzaga Bulldogs were good — but perhaps we didn’t know how good they truly could be. Then came a statement 101-63 win over No. 8 Baylor, and now we’re forced to consider if Mark Few’s squad is ready to make some serious noise this year.
Gonzaga has arguably the best frontcourt in the nation headlined by Graham Ike and also featuring experienced options in Ben Gregg and Braden Huff. The backcourt is in good hands with the steady hands of Ryan Nembhard, and the rest of the roster looks well-stocked with versatile options.
Khalif Battle and Nolan Hickman are experienced bucket-getters. Michael Ajayi and Dusty Stomer bring great size and energy as two superb bench options. Overall, this is Few’s best team in a few years. The Zags return six of their top seven scorers from a year ago and are an experienced and talented team.
The Arizona State Sun Devils could be in for a long season if early results are any indication of what’s to come for their first season in the Big 12. Sure, they’re 2-0 including an impressive win over Santa Clara, but that’s not all that there is to see.
A preseason scrimmage resulted in a lopsided 103-47 loss against Duke.
Sure, you can say “It’s just a scrimmage”, but it’s also an indication that the Sun Devils aren’t ready to compete with elite competition.
They started the regular season with an uninspiring 55-48 win over Idaho State. A win is a win, but shooting 36% against a team that hasn’t had a winning record in nearly a decade isn’t what coach Bobby Hurley had in mind.
It looks as though scoring the ball efficiently could be a problem for this team, which ranks 127th in Kenpom’s adjusted offensive efficiency. Gonzaga has slipped on defense in recent years but looked terrific in the opener and checks in at 25th in adjusted defensive efficiency, which would be a much-needed improvement from a year ago.
I trust this Gonzaga team to score in bunches against nearly any team until given a reason to think otherwise. Few’s offense has the look of a juggernaut and will be playing at home on Sunday, so the points should flow.
I don’t trust Arizona State to score. The 81 points against Santa Clara were impressive, but the Sun Devils don’t meet the eye test and efficiency is still a question mark.
I’ll bet on Mark Few’s squad to stay rolling. You can call it a letdown spot if you want — I view it as the Bulldogs are playing tremendous basketball and should continue doing so against a mediocre opponent.
Arizona State vs Gonzaga same-game parlay
Gonzaga -22.5
Under 156.5
Arizona State looks like an underwhelming offensive team this season. Go back and watch the Idaho State game and let me know if you feel otherwise — not pretty stuff.
Bobby Hurley knows how to recruit talented players, but the product on the court usually resembles a “roll the balls out” style of play. I don’t see that working effectively against a strategist like Few.
The Bulldogs regressed defensively over the last few seasons and Few must know that his squad must improve on that side of the ball to compete in the Big Dance. I expect to see the improvement continue in a matchup against an Arizona State offense that doesn’t really have an identity.
The Sun Devils have played with pace in recent years but are 159th in Kenpom’s adjusted tempo metric. Do they want to get into a track meet against a clearly superior offense? I’m betting not.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Arizona State vs Gonzaga odds
Arizona State vs Gonzaga live odds
Arizona State vs Gonzaga opening odds
- Spread: Arizona State -22.5 | Gonzaga -22.5
- Moneyline: Arizona State +1,550 | Gonzaga -4,000
- Over/Under: Over 157 | Under 157
Odds courtesy of bet365
Arizona State vs Gonzaga betting trend to know
Gonzaga has won 36 consecutive home openers. Find more college basketball betting trends for Arizona State vs. Gonzaga.
How to watch Arizona State vs Gonzaga
| Location: | McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, WA |
| Date: | Sunday, 11-10-2024 |
| Tip-off: | 5:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN |
Arizona State vs Gonzaga key injuries
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