Virginia Cavaliers vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Preview

Two of the best programs in college basketball will meet up on Saturday afternoon for a huge showdown. The 6-0 Gonzaga Bulldogs will take on the 4-1 Virginia Cavaliers in Fort Worth, Texas, in what could be a Final Four preview.

Gonzaga has been dominant so far this season, and it is winning games by an average of 17 points per game. The Bulldogs have already earned three victories against Top 25 teams, and this will be another huge test. 

Virginia’s lone loss of the season came against San Francisco in a stunning upset, but the Cavaliers have recovered nicely. Virginia has been dealing with COVID-19 of late, and there could be some rust after a long layoff.

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are 7.5-point favorites in this matchup. 

Zags Scoring Plenty of Points

The Bulldogs are scoring more than 94 points per game this season, and they have a number of great scoring threats. Gonzaga wants to play extremely fast, and it isn’t afraid to take shots early in the shot clock.

Corey Kispert and Drew Timme are both scoring more than 20 points per game, and both could be All-Americans this season. Kispert is one of the best three-point shooters on this team, while Timme does most of his damage inside.

The Bulldogs also do a great job of sharing the basketball, averaging more than 20 assists per game. Head coach Mark Few has put together one of the most impressive rosters in the country. 

Pack Line Defense a Staple for Virginia

The Cavaliers are annually one of the best defensive teams in the country, and this season is no exception. Virginia is allowing just over 54 points per game, and that pack line defense could give Gonzaga some issues in this matchup.

On offense, Virginia is scoring just over 74 points per game, and it might need a better offensive game on Saturday if it wants to keep this one close. Virginia doesn’t have a true superstar like Gonzaga, but it has plenty of balance on its roster.

Sam Hauser leads the team with 13.4 points per game, and he is one of three players who are averaging in double figures. Guard Trey Murphy has chipped in with 11.6 points per game, and he is also the best three-point shooter on this team.

Virginia will try to win this game with defense, but it must find a way to score at some point. 

Gonzaga Rolls Over Cavaliers

The Cavaliers have been able to shut down nearly every opponent they have faced this season, but Gonzaga is a completely different animal. The Bulldogs have plenty of NBA talent on the floor, and they will look to speed things up in this game.

Virginia will be able to keep this game close with defense for a while, but Gonzaga will eventually take control. The Bulldogs have a special team this season, and they will pick up another statement victory on Saturday afternoon.

Bet the Gonzaga Bulldogs -7.5 over the Virginia Cavaliers in this Top 25 showdown.

For more Dunkel Index picks, check out our college basketball picks page.