USC Trojans vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Prediction, 3/30/2021 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: USC Trojans vs Gonzaga Bulldogs

Date: Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Location: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN

TV: TBS

Odds/Point Spread: USC (+9.5)

The Gonzaga Bulldogs (29-0) play the USC Trojans (25-7) at Lucas Oil Stadium on Tuesday in the Elite 8. The line on this contest has Gonzaga as 9.5-point favorites. The total is set at 154.5.

USC heads into this contest with a record of 25-7 for the year. They average 75.2 pts per contest (75th in the country) while connecting on 47.4% from the field. The Trojans are connecting on 36.3% on three-point attempts (210 of 579) and 64.6% from the free throw line. As a unit, USC is pulling in 39.2 rebounds per contest and has accounted for 449 dimes so far this season, which ranks 16th in college basketball in terms of passing the ball. They lose possession via turnover 12.4 times per contest and as a group they are committing 15.2 fouls every game. On the defensive end, the Trojans are able to force 11.7 turnovers every game and they draw 18.8 fouls. The Trojans defensively are allowing a field goal percentage of 38.6% (747 of 1,934) and they concede 32.3 boards per game as a squad. They are ranked 322nd in the nation in giving up assists with 399 conceded for the season. They are relinquishing 33.3% from 3-point land and they rank 40th in D-1 in PPG allowed (64.5).

The USC Trojans faced off with the Oregon Ducks and earned the victory with a final of 82-68 in their last contest. USC ended the game with a 57.4% FG percentage (31 out of 54) and made 10 out of their 17 shots from distance. When they shot from the charity stripe, the Trojans converted 10 of 12 attempts for a rate of 83.3%. Concerning rebounding, they earned 28 with 8 of them being offensive. They also doled out 15 assists for this game as well as forcing 11 turnovers and having 5 steals. With respect to defending, USC allowed their opponent to shoot 37.7% from the floor on 26 of 69 shooting. Oregon doled out 15 assists and had 7 steals for this game. In addition, Oregon grabbed 29 rebounds (16 offensive, 13 defensive) and got 3 blocks. Oregon finished 91.7% at the charity stripe by making 11 of 12 shots. They made 5 out of their 21 tries from distance.

Isaiah White is one player who came through in this game. He finished with 22 points on 8 of 10 shooting. He was on the court for 32 mins and also collected 5 boards. White ended up going 80.0% from the floor and also earned 1 assist. Someone else that had an impact in this matchup for the Trojans was Tahj Eaddy. He grabbed 2 rebounds in his 34 min on the basketball court. He ended up shooting 63.6% from the floor in this matchup by shooting 7-of-11 (20 points). In all, Eaddy collected 3 assists.

Gonzaga has a record of 29-0 for the campaign. Gonzaga has accounted for 2,663 pts so far this season (91.8 per game) and they grab 37.9 boards per game. The Bulldogs are responsible for committing 16.3 fouls every game while shooting 73.6% from the charity stripe. As an offense, the Bulldogs are connecting on 55.1% from the floor, which is ranked 10th in college basketball. They are dishing out assists 18.6 times per game (2nd in college hoops) and they turn it over 12.1 times per contest. The Bulldogs are ranked 123rd in Division 1 in PPG given up with 68.6. They have given up 11.3 assists and 30.1 boards per game, which is 64th and 16th in college hoops. The Gonzaga defense gives up 32.1% on 3-point attempts (195 of 608) and opponents are connecting on 69.6% of their free throw attempts. They are able to force 14.9 turnovers on a nightly basis and allow teams to shoot 41.7% from the floor (85th in Division 1).

When they last stepped on the court, the Gonzaga Bulldogs got the victory with a final of 83-65 when they played the Creighton Bluejays. The Bulldogs pulled down 28 defensive boards and 6 offensive rebounds totaling 34 in this game. They turned the ball over 16 times, while recording 5 steals for this game. The Bluejays were called for 12 personal fouls in the matchup which took the Bulldogs to the charity stripe for a total of 10 tries. They were able to bury 6 of the free throws for a rate of 60.0%. In terms of 3-pointers, Gonzaga knocked down 9 of 24 tries (37.5%). When the final whistle blew, the Bulldogs went 34 for 57 from the floor which gave them a rate of 59.6%. The Bulldogs permitted the Bluejays to convert 28 out of 69 tries from the floor which had them at 40.6% for the matchup. They finished the game shooting 21.7% from three-point range by shooting 5 out of 23 and finished the contest at 4 of 8 at the free throw line (50.0%). In relation to attacking the glass, Gonzaga allowed Creighton to grab 25 in total (8 on the offensive side).

Drew Timme pitched in for the Bulldogs for the game. He buried 10 of 14 for the matchup for a rate of 71.4%, and totaled 6 rebounds. Timme totaled 22 points in his 27 minutes of playing time and accumulated 4 assists in the matchup. One more player that ended being a contributor for Gonzaga was Andrew Nembhard. He ended up with 8 dimes in 36 mins on the hardwood, and he put in 7 out of 9 from the floor. Nembhard walked away from this one going 77.8% from the floor in addition to earning 17 points and 4 total rebounds.

Who will win tonight's college basketball game against the spread?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take USC (+9.5)

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