March Madness Battle of the Bulldogs: Georgia vs Gonzaga First Round Picks & Predictions
The #9 Georgia Bulldogs (20-12) face #8 Gonzaga (25-8) in the first round of March Madness on Thursday at 4:30 pm ET in Wichita, KS. Gonzaga enters as 6.5-point favorites with a -290 moneyline.
Two basketball players battle for ball
Gonzaga brings strong momentum, going 9-1 in their last ten games including a statement 58-51 win over Saint Mary's in the WCC Tournament final. They're led by Graham Ike (17.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG) and Ryan Nembhard (10.8 PPG, 9.8 APG).
Georgia struggled with consistency despite notable wins over Florida, Kentucky, and St John's. Freshmen Asa Newell (15.3 PPG) and Silas Demary (13.4 PPG) lead the Bulldogs but lack tournament experience.
Key Stats:
- Gonzaga: 29th in defensive efficiency
- Georgia: 5-5 in last 10 games
- Over/Under: 150.5 points
- KenPom projection: Gonzaga 78-72
Best Bets:
- Spread: Georgia +6.5 (-105)
- Player Prop: Asa Newell Under 15.5 points (-135)
Reasoning: While Gonzaga has more experience and momentum, Georgia's SEC schedule prepared them for high-level competition. The spread appears too wide given Georgia's ceiling and Gonzaga's 14-19 ATS record. For props, Newell faces a tough Gonzaga defense and has only exceeded 15.5 points once in his last five games.
The winner advances to face the victor of the North Carolina/Howard matchup in the second round of the East Region.