The Christmas season for college basketball season has arrived! Teams have played in all sorts of non-conference and conference-like challenges. Guess what this week brings us? That's right. Let's see what Gonzaga is up to. At Online Sports Betting, we look at the good, bad, and ugly. So, first, we look at Monday College Basketball Picks featuring the Gonzaga Bulldogs. They clash with Kent State, a team that arguably could be ranked in the top 25.
- WHAT: Gonzaga Bulldogs versus Kent State Golden Flashes
- WHEN: Monday, December 5th, 2022, 9:00 pm ET on NBC or streamed on FUBO TV
- WHERE: McCarthy Athletic Center, Spokane, Washington
- WHY: Big Monday Matchup
The bettors love games like this. The Monday College Basketball Picks need to be made as fast as possible. Now, betting on NCAA basketball futures is difficult. After all, upside-down results early in the season frustrated many, from beginners to experts. The games this week hopefully help a fraction. Here is a quick table below for Gonzaga, thanks to the Bovada Online Sportsbook.
Monday College Basketball Picks Check In On Gonzaga
Monday, college basketball picks check in on Gonzaga. So, what the heck is going on with Gonzaga? The Bulldogs felt like they had the look of a championship team. It started well enough but has gone a bit south lately. Mark Few saw his team drop three of the first eight games, so it is typically not like Gonzaga, though that heartbreaking loss to Baylor leaves a mark. The question becomes, does that finally jolt the Bulldogs out of their slumber?
Gonzaga belongs to being an early 15.5-point favorite here as they figure to bounce back again. They are ranked in the top 25 still, depending on the poll. This Bulldogs squad wants to get after someone as, unfortunately, they are right on the train tracks for the Golden Flashes. Consider that Gonzaga ranks with the second toughest strength-of-schedule in the nation. Even Kent State is 6-2. Although this team comes in at just 1-2 on the road, both losses were close games to equal or better opponents.
Let's take on this Monday night game. Also, we give a quick outlook on the Gonzaga week. Can they start to parlay some momentum as their conference schedule begins at the end of the month?
Mark Few Believes In His Gonzaga Team
The Monday College Basketball Picks hammer home the following statement. Mark Few believes in his Gonzaga team. Don't people love a roster where the top player gets and stays in foul trouble? That just occurred on Friday night as Drew Timme got in foul trouble and stayed there for the balance of the night. This resulted in an uneven performance and nine points on a 3-for-6 shooting.
The best case for Gonzaga lies in contests like these. When everything goes wrong, who steps up and delivers? Maybe it was not enough, but Few saw some fight in his team. Yes, they lost about the roughest way a team can in December. On the other hand, the schedule gets more manageable, especially once the WCC gets underway on December 31st. Some refer to the WCC as the GCC or the Gonzaga Coast Conference.
Gonzaga bricked its last game too. The Bulldogs shot a mere 38.1%, then tried to blame everyone else. Gonzaga's struggle mirrors a lot of top teams. We are seeing this with Creighton, North Carolina, and others. Those teams struggle with that killer instinct or lose outright.
Again, the good news is that Gonzaga headlines seven players from the Top 100 GSCI, including players like Malachi Smith. Do not forget players like Strawther and Watson, who can easily snag 10+ rebounds on a given night. This sets up for an exciting game when it comes to going against the spread tonight.
Monday College Basketball Picks Laying 15.5 Points?
So, what about Big Monday's college basketball picks laying 15.5 points? The thought process lies in the fact that Gonzaga will start playing more like a consistent top-three team in the nation. Timme will stay out of foul trouble. The depth gets more potent and more experience for what figures to be a grueling 2023. Also, after four neutral-site games, Gonzaga is likely to happen to play in their home barn finally.
Now, consider the Kent State Golden Flashes team. They are a MAC school that thrives at home this season (5-0). Despite dropping two of their first three road games, the Golden Flashes hel. Daniel Batchor and Kevin Obanor have some frontcourt presence, but can they handle the athleticism of Creighton? This is where things get fun. Jaylon Tyson is an excellent wildcard in this game. The swing guard might have the speed to surprise the Bluejays. Also, he can break the press and create a minor offense.
There is a feeling that Kent State may stay close throughout. On the other hand, look at a team like the Creighton Blue Jays. It was felt that Creighton mirrors Gonzaga some. Taking Gonzaga to win by 16 feels like a tall order, but it is better than that -2200 moneyline.
What About The Over For Tonight?
Finally, Monday College Basketball Bets wonders about the over for tonight. This game has seen the number come back online, which is excellent news. The recommendation for the first games in an invitational is to side with the under. Overs get a little inflated with their point totals. Stick with the over here, as Gonzaga should force the tempo upward and just past that 153.5 mark.
More Online Sportsbook Reviews?
Other teams were on the radar, but Monday night is light. Now, see more great online sportsbook reviews where there appear to be solid options:
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