Gonzaga vs. Texas Tech Odds
| Gonzaga Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9.5 -115 | 147 -110o / -110u | -520 |
| Texas Tech Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9.5 -105 | 147 -110o / -110u | +385 |
We have ourselves quite an intriguing top-25 matchup, as the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Texas Tech Red Raiders clash in Phoenix.
The Red Raiders have come out of the gates hot under first-year coach Mark Adams. Their 8-1 start has vaulted them into the top 25 and now, they have the chance to prove they belong.
This matchup will be perhaps their tallest task. While their win against Tennessee deserves some credit, the Red Raiders' performance in that contest would not get it done in any other game.
Mark Few's Bulldogs may use this game as an opportunity to prove they are still the top dog. Unlike the Red Raiders, Gonzaga has gone through a gauntlet in non-conference play. This matchup will be its fifth game against a ranked opponent, as it has a 2-2 record in top-25 matchups so far this season.
With all the exterior motivation laid out, the only thing left to do is determine who wants it more. Let's dig into this one to find out.
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Bulldogs' Size Will Be a Big Factor
In Gonzaga's first loss, it was finally met by a team that could match up well with its size and length in Duke.
In the Bulldogs' second loss, they fell victim to Alabama due to poor defense combined with the incredibly hot shooting of the Crimson Tide.
The Red Raiders do not present any of those issues.
It all starts down low with the Bulldogs' offense. The preseason favorite for the Naismith Award, Drew Timme, has picked up where he left off from last year's Final Four.
The 6-foot-10 junior is averaging over 18 points and six rebounds per game. The Bulldogs' offense is run through Timme, as his low post-scoring ability gives opposing defenders nightmares.
Once teams are forced to double him, the big man has excellent distributing skills out of the post that sets up his teammates on the perimeter. Here's just one example of what he's capable of:
DREW TIMME CANNOT BE STOPPED.
He has 37 points‼️ pic.twitter.com/pINXVgWjDh
— ESPN (@espn) November 14, 2021
This year, Timme is not alone on the block as the nation's No. 1 recruit, Chet Holmgren, has proven he's worthy of the hype. "The Unicorn" has shown that he really can do it all for this Gonzaga team.
Not only does his height and length make him a mismatch on the offensive end, but those attributes make him a feared figure on defense. Holmgren is third in the nation in blocks per game.
The Bulldogs' twin towers are certainly not the only portion of this team that deserves to be highlighted, as they have multiple guards who are real threats on the outside.
Though for this matchup, the Bulldogs will dominate inside. Texas Tech only has one player over 6-foot-7, and he's a freshman who only plays 13 minutes per game.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Red Raiders Need a Breakout Performance
As I highlighted earlier, in Gonzaga's losses, it fell to great teams that had players put up signature performances against it.
While the Texas Tech offense has not been the most potent, it does possess two players who could deliver that breakout performance.
The Red Raiders' leading scorer, Kevin McCullar, has shown that he can get hot from extended range and carry his team. He has posted 20 points or more twice this season, and those outings have stemmed from hitting 3s.
Those two performances did come against Grambling and Arkansas State, though. McCullar was notably quiet against Tennessee and Providence, totaling just 18 points and 27% shooting from the field in those two games.
Texas Tech's next option is Terrence Shannon Jr.
Shannon has been the most consistent scorer for the Red Raiders this season. He's averaging 14 points per game and shooting over 47% from the field. His status is in question for this outing, though, as he departed early against Arkansas State with back spasms.
The Red Raiders will need all they can get — and maybe more — from McCullar and Shannon to challenge the Bulldogs.
One area that should be noted is the Bulldogs' lack of turnovers created on the defensive end. Texas Tech will be able to possess the ball and perhaps slow the tempo down to help keep itself in range.
Gonzaga vs. Texas Tech Betting Pick
Gonzaga will have a tremendous edge on the offensive end of the floor. The Bulldogs also will be motivated to make a statement against the last top-25 opponent they play before conference play.
As with Gonzaga's prior losses, it's going to take another outlier performance for the Red Raiders to keep this close.
