GAME:  #621 Gonzaga vs #622 Baylor
TIME:    12/5/2020 – 1:00p EST
SPREAD:   Gonzaga -3
TOTAL:      157

The #1 Gonzaga Bulldogs (3-0) battle the #2 Baylor Bears (3-0) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Saturday at 1 p.m. EST. In the previous games, the Bulldogs blew through its first two opponents, beating #7 Kansas and Auburn by a combined 35 points. Then Gonzaga faced a much tougher test against #11 West Virginia on Wednesday night in Indianapolis. The Mountaineers came out strong in the first half and Gonzaga suffered a scare when talented freshman Jalen Scruggs went down with a left foot injury but Suggs managed to return in the second half and so did the Zags’ offensive efficiency, to come back to take the lead and hold on for an 87-82 win. Baylor is coming off a big win against Illinois by a score of 82-69. 

GONZAGA BULLDOGS

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are averaging 93 points per game on 65.3% shooting from the field and 29.1 percent shooting from three. The Gonzaga defense is allowing 79.7% shooting from the field and 34.3% shooting from three. The Gonzaga defense is giving up 79.7 points per game. Five Bulldogs are averaging over 11 points per game, with forward Drew Timme leading the way at 23.3 points on 60.4% shooting. Corey Kispert is adding 22.3 points per game and is shooting 45%. Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, Corey Kispert, and Joel Ayayi have collectively accounted for 64 percent of all Bulldogs’ scoring this season. Gonzaga’s Kispert has attempted 20 3-pointers and connected on 45 percent of them and is 9 of 20 over his past three games.

BAYLOR BEARS

The Baylor Bears offense is averaging 93.3 points per game on 53.2% shooting from the field and 47.3% from three-point land, the ninth-best mark in the nation. The Baylor defense is one of the best in the nation allowing only 67.7 points per game on 53.2% from two and 29.5% from three. Jared Butler leads the Baylor offense with 16.3 points per game, Flagler and MaCio Teague are adding 15 points per game along with Davion Mitchell who is adding 13 points per game and has shot 58.3% from three. Baylor’s Jared Butler has connected on 43.8% of the 16 3-pointers he’s attempted. Baylor as a team has made 11.7 3-pointers per game this season, which is the eighth-best among Division I teams.

TRENDS(covers.com)

GONZAGA

• Over is 8-1 in Bulldogs last 9 neutral site games as a favorite.
• Over is 8-1 in Bulldogs last 9 neutral site games.
• Over is 6-1 in Bulldogs last 7 games following an ATS loss.
• Bulldogs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games as a favorite.
• Bulldogs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games.

BAYLOR

• Over is 5-0-2 in Bears last 7 neutral site games as an underdog.
• The Bears are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games.
• Over is 6-1 in the Bears’ last 7 overall.
• The Bears are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.
• Over is 5-1 in Bears last 6 neutral site games.

HEAD TO HEAD

• Underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.

GONZAGA vs BAYLOR PREDICTION

Gonzaga has proven themselves this season by handing losses to some of the best teams but you have to remember it is early in the season. The Bulldogs can score and so can the Bears so this is expected to be an offensive battle. Suggs’ status is uncertain after he left and came back to the game. Often an injury takes a few days before it takes full effect so there is a good chance he will not be 100% for this one. When Suggs went out of the game the Bulldogs’ offense struggled. Baylor has the best guard combination on offense and one of the top defenses in the country. There is no doubt Gonzaga is good but the better team won’t be who can score but rather what team can play better defense. Without a doubt, the better defensive team is the Baylor Bears. The Bookie is rolling with the Baylor Bears to cover the spread and possibly win this one outright. 

BETTING ANGLES:

The Bookie:         Baylor +3
Fade the Public: Baylor
Sharp Action: no data

Risk 2.2 Units to win 2 Units on Baylor to win or lose by less than 3.