The Georgia Bulldogs take on the Marquette Golden Eagles in Nassau, Bahamas,. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. ET on FloHoops.
Marquette is favored by 6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -280. The total is set at 152.5 points.
Here’s my Marquette vs Georgia predictions and college basketball picks for November 23, 2024.
Marquette vs Georgia Prediction
My Pick: Georgia +7
My Marquette vs Georgia best bet is on the Bulldogs spread, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Marquette vs Georgia Odds, Lines, Pick
| Marquette Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -110 | 152.5 -110 / -110 | -280 |
| Georgia Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -110 | 152.5 -110 / -110 | +230 |
- Marquette vs Georgia spread: Marquette -6.5
- Marquette vs Georgia over/under: 152.5 points
- Marquette vs Georgia moneyline: Marquette -280, Georgia +230
- Marquette vs Georgia best bet: Georgia +7
My Marquette vs Georgia NCAAB Betting Preview
I was incredibly impressed by the Golden Eagles' double-digit win over Purdue this week. OK, I stated the obvious — beating a top-10 team by double figures is impressive — but a loss never seemed in real doubt for Marquette against a squad that looked unstoppable a few short days prior.
But the most intriguing part for Marquette has been its elite defense.
The Golden Eagles' defense blew up everything Purdue wanted to do. Marquette held Purdue to 0.85 PPP, just a few days after it scored 1.25 PPP against Alabama.
The tandem of Stevie Mitchell and Chase Ross held All-American guard Braden Smith to just eight points, and Purdue turned it over 16 times.
We know defense is the heart and soul of Marquette. On the other end, I have some worries about its scoring.
Sure, sitting 26th in KenPom's offensive efficiency isn't bad, but what happens to the Golden Eagles' offense when it has to play a half-court centric game? Marquette attempts 3s on 49% of its offensive possessions, but it shoots just 30%.
Forwards David Joplin and Ben Gold must consistently hit shots from 3 to make Marquette an above-average shooting team.
Kam Jones is incredible, as he notched Marquette's first triple-double since Dwyane Wade in 2003. Jones is one of the best do-it-all guards in the country, averaging 22.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game on 63% shooting and 48% from 3. He might be the front-runner for National Player of the Year.
Coach Shaka Smart needs another dazzling game from his best player.
The Golden Eagles also aren't a very deep team. They played six players more than seven-plus minutes in the game against Purdue, and the bench is super inexperienced besides Royce Parham, who's made his mark as a freshman.
It hasn't haunted them yet, but proven depth is never a bad thing, and that's something Marquette lacks.
Georgia Basketball
Mike White is on the prowl for his first NCAA Tournament bid in three years at Georgia. The Bulldogs enter this game at 5-0, but they haven't beat a single top-100 team in KenPom's rankings.
Some might call them lucky, but the Bulldogs haven't had a close call yet and now face a team that, with a win, enhances their resume.
Offensively, Georgia should focus on getting the ball to its starting bigs, Asa Newell and RJ Godfrey.
A five-star freshman, Newell quickly has established himself as the Bulldogs' best player, posting 16.8 points and 7.2 rebounds a night. Newell is a dangerous play with his ability to face up and score, or back down smaller forwards and use his soft touch inside.
Another notch in the Bulldogs' belt is their ability to pummel teams on the glass. They boast an impressive 45% offensive rebounding rate (fifth nationally), and Georgia's opponents only secure extra possessions 23% of the time.
Contrast that number to Marquette's poor rebounding numbers, and it's a major key for Georgia to win on the glass.
The Bulldogs also have a strong stable of experienced guards. Each of Georgia's four main rotation guards averages 10+ points per game, led by 14 from point guard Silas Demary Jr. and veteran sniper Dakota Leffew. Meanwhile, athletic southpaw Tyrin Lawrence pitches in 11 and sophomore Blue Cain adds 10.
The Bulldogs need better shooting from the pair of sophomores — Cain and Demary — as both are well below 30% from 3. Demary isn't a marksman from 3, but Cain shot 35% from downtown last year and came into college as an elite prospect known for his shooting.
Point guard play is a vital part to beating Marquette's intense defensive pressure. That's the biggest worry for the Bulldogs, who handed Demary the keys to the lead guard spot.
However, he's looked shaky in that role so far. We will see if his inexperience at the position ultimately leads to Georgia's demise against one of the best defensive teams it will face this year.
Marquette vs Georgia Betting Analysis
Marquette hasn't faced a team with Georgia's interior depth yet, and that seems like the way to beat the Golden Eagles.
I talked about Newell and Godfrey, but backup bigs Justin Abson and Somto Cyril can impact the game, as well. Abson was an integral piece to App State's Sun Belt regular season title last year, while Cyril, a former Kentucky commit, is an explosive athlete who is an elite lob threat.
Georgia simply has way more frontline depth than Marquette, and that's not a small thing in what promises to be a tight, physical showdown.
The path to covering is winning the rebound battle. If that happens, then Georgia should have a great chance to cover.
Both teams have plenty of length (Georgia is ninth in average height, per KenPom, and Marquette is 38th), so it will be interesting to see which team carves out an advantage inside.
