Gonzaga vs Texas Tech Picks and Predictions: Can Red Raiders Compete With Nation's Best?

The Gonzaga Bulldogs will work their way back to the top of the rankings with a road game against Texas Tech. This game will be played on a neutral court in Phoenix, AZ at the Footprint Center for the Jerry Colangelo Classic. 

Gonzaga’s two losses have come against Top-15 competition (Duke and Alabama), but with wins over UCLA and Texas, the Bulldogs still have a solid resume. 

Meanwhile, Texas Tech has just one loss on the year but has played an extremely easy schedule to start the year. Of course, it’s about to get much tougher against Gonzaga. 

Here are our picks and predictions for the Jerry Colangelo Classic between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Gonzaga vs Texas Tech odds

Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.

The Gonzaga Bulldogs opened as an 8-point favorite and haven’t moved since opening. The total, however, has adjusted slightly from 145 to 145.5 since opening.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until tip-off and be sure to check out the full college basketball odds before placing your bets.

Gonzaga vs Texas Tech predictions

• Prediction: Gonzaga -8 (-110)
• Prediction: Under 145.5 (-110)
• Best bet: Gonzaga -8 (-110)

Predictions made on 12/18/2021 at 12:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Gonzaga vs Texas Tech game info

• Location: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Date: Saturday, December 18, 2021
• Tip-off: 1:00 p.m. ET
• TV: CBS

Gonzaga at Texas Tech betting preview

Injuries

Gonzaga: Dominick Harris G (Out), Kaden Perry F (Questionable).
Texas Tech: Sardaar Calhoun G (Out), Ethan Duncan G (Questionable), Mylik Wilson G (Out).

Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.

Betting trend to know

 Bulldogs are 5-0 ATS in their last five games following a SU win of more than 20 points. Find more NCAA betting trends for Gonzaga vs. Texas Tech.

Gonzaga vs Texas Tech picks and predictions

Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.

Spread analysis

Gonzaga is usually the team that gets criticized for beating up on weaker competition. But let’s be fair — Texas Tech has had one of the easier schedules to start the season. 

Texas Tech has played six teams in the bottom 105 in KenPom rankings to begin the season. They’ve since lost to Providence and edged out Tennessee in overtime. 

I need to see more out of Texas Tech this season to know how good they can be and whether they can compete with the nation’s best. On the year, the Red Raiders are shooting a 54.2% effective field goal percentage while earning 43.7% offensive rebounds. 

Those offense rebounds against bad mid-major schools came easy, but against Gonzaga, things will be a bit tougher. Texas Tech is shooting 35% from downtown and 55.3% from inside the arc on the year. Turnovers should be limited against Gonzaga, but the shooting percentage inside should also be limited. 

Gonzaga is holding opponents to 42.9% inside the arc and holding opponents to a 43.6% effective field goal percentage. The Bulldogs have been able to limit offensive rebounds well and that should help keep Texas Tech off the glass on the offensive end. 

Meanwhile, the more exciting matchup in this game will be the Gonzaga offense going up against Texas Tech’s defense. Gonzaga is shooting an effective field goal percentage of 59% while shooting 64.5% inside the arc this season. 

Gonzaga is currently ranked first in the nation in field goal percentage from two-point range. However, Texas Tech has limited threes to 31% and two-point shots to 45.5% on the season. 

The Red Raiders are going to want to make this game a heavy fouling game but if Gonzaga stays out of trouble, they’ll find a way to win and cover.

Prediction: Gonzaga -8 (-110)

Over/Under analysis

At the end of the day, we’re still watching two of the best defenses go head-to-head. Gonzaga is a quick offense, using just 14.9 seconds per possession. However, Texas Tech is using 18 seconds per possession, which is 253rd in the nation. 

Of course, both teams have dominated the offensive glass this year, but both teams have also been able to limit second chances on the defensive end. Texas Tech could slow things down, especially if the Red Raiders win the turnover battle. The Red Raiders will want to limit possessions in this game so they can stick around against Gonzaga. 

Give me the Under 145.5.

Prediction: Under 145.5 (-110)

Best bet

I’m sticking with Gonzaga here. The Bulldogs are ranked fifth in the country but are still one of the best teams in the nation. The Bulldogs are top 20 in both offensive and defensive adjusted efficiency and have the best field goal percentage inside the arc.

I admire what Texas Tech has done on the offensive glass this year, I just believe that Gonzaga will hold the Red Raiders off the glass, unlike all the poor mid-major teams that Texas Tech faced earlier this season. 

Pick: Gonzaga -8 (-110)

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