In what’s considered the premier game of the college basketball opening night schedule, the Baylor Bears take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs in Spokane, WA. Tip-off is set for 11:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
The Bulldogs are favored by 5.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -185. The total is also set at 157 points.
Here’s my Baylor vs. Gonzaga predictions and college basketball picks for Monday.
Baylor vs Gonzaga Prediction
My Pick: Gonzaga -4.5
My Baylor vs Gonzaga best bet is on Bulldogs spread, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Baylor vs Gonzaga Odds
| Baylor Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6 -110 | 156.5 -110o / -110u | +195 |
| Gonzaga Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6 -110 | 156.5 -110o / -110u | -240 |
- Baylor vs Gonzaga spread: Gonzaga -6
- Baylor vs Gonzaga over/under: 156.5 points
- Baylor vs Gonzaga moneyline: Gonzaga -240, Baylor +195
- Baylor vs Gonzaga best bet: Gonzaga -4.5 (Play to -6)
Baylor vs Gonzaga Start Time, Channel, Streaming
| Location: | Spokane Arena, Spokane, WA |
| Date: | Monday, November 4 |
| Start Time: | 11:30 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ESPN2 |
Baylor vs. Gonzaga is scheduled for an 11:30 p.m. ET start time, live from Spokane Arena in Spokane, WA on Monday. The game is live on ESPN2.
Gonzaga vs Baylor College Basketball Betting Preview
Baylor Basketball
When looking at Baylor’s roster, the first thing that immediately jumps out is the backcourt. Sure, Ja’Kobe Walter isn’t walking through that door for the Bears, but they added the experienced, steady hand of Jeremy Roach (Duke) and a talented, five-star, potential one-and-done lottery pick in VJ Edgecombe.
While there are question marks about Langston Love’s health, he and Jayden Nunn return to give Drew four strong guards at his disposal.
The backcourt looks to be one of the deepest in the nation, but the frontcourt has question marks. The addition of Norchad Omier will be incredibly beneficial, as the former Miami big man is a double-double machine despite his smaller stature (6-foot-7).
However, the concern lies with the potential lack of rim protection and the minimal size up front. Yves Missi, who, like Walter, was a first-round NBA draft selection, averaged 1.5 blocks per game last season and altered many others, allowing the guards to gamble on the perimeter without giving up easy lanes to the hoop.
The Bears don’t have that luxury this season unless Josh Ojianwuna takes a massive step forward.
Baylor is far from doomed, though. This will potentially create more four-guard lineups, allowing the Bears to play smaller, faster and create mismatches to their advantage.
Gonzaga Basketball
On Mark Few’s side, Gonzaga is loaded with depth. Ryan Nembhard is back to run the show at point guard and Graham Ike anchors the painted area, but there’s more than just these two stars in Spokane.
Six of the Bulldogs’ top seven scorers from last season return, including third-leading scorer Nolan Hickman, sophomore Braden Huff, stretch big man Ben Gregg and guard Dusty Stromer.
And Few even dipped his toes into the transfer portal, pulling Khalif Battle into the program. While Battle had issues with shot selection and lacking defensive efforts at Arkansas, he also averaged nearly 30 points per game in his final seven outings of last season.
Gonzaga is so deep that it took this far in to mention that Steele Venters suffered a second consecutive season-ending injury. Also, Braeden Smith, who was the Patriot League Player of the Year at Colgate and could’ve been a potential starter at some other high-major programs, is redshirting.
The Bulldogs also have multiple avenues to run their offense through. Nembhard is a calming presence at the point, but he can also create shots for himself. Ike has elite passing abilities in the post and can use both of his hands to finish. Hickman and Battle have also shown their scoring savviness in the past.
Gonzaga vs Baylor Betting Analysis
Returning experience is always more important than newcomers in college basketball, especially early in the season. Because of the transfer portal, chemistry is tougher to find in the sport than in previous years.
But Gonzaga has it. Ike is an All-American candidate and the Bulldogs are returning virtually everyone of significance besides Anton Watson.
Meanwhile, the Bears are working in newcomers like Roach, Omier and Edgecombe, and we don’t know how healthy Love is.
And while it’s not a new system or style of play, the Bears have to adjust to playing with less size in the frontcourt. Drew is an excellent coach and Baylor will be a contender in the Big 12, but this is their first game of the season in a hostile environment on the road.
