Baylor Bears vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs 11/4/24 – The season’s first game is the Baylor Bears, who ended the last season with an impressive 24-11 win-loss ratio, versus the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who ended their season with a commendable 27-8 win-loss ratio. This matchup scheduled for Monday will be a bit interesting as it takes place at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. This confrontation is not only an examination of the strengths of the other two teams at the beginning of the season; it is also a stage for college basketball winning predictions as to what these teams will be able to achieve this season.
Baylor Bears vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs 11/4/24
| When: | Monday, November 4, 2024 at 11:30 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena |
| TV: | ESP2 |
| Stream: | SofaScore |
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | +3.5 (-118) | 155.5 over (-118) | +125 |  |
| Bulldogs | -3.5 (-118) | 155.5 under (-118) | -150 | |
| ||||
Heading west 🛫#SicEm | #CultureofJOY pic.twitter.com/0caR8A0npy
— Baylor Men’s Basketball (@BaylorMBB) November 2, 2024
The odds reflect a tight contest with Gonzaga favored slightly at home. The Bulldogs’ -3.5 point spread suggests oddsmakers anticipate a close but controlled victory over the Bears. Betting on the Bears at +3.5 could be tempting given their robust ATS performance in similar matchups, signaling a potentially tighter game than the lines suggest. The over/under at 155.5 points indicates expectations for a high-scoring affair, aligning with both teams’ offensive capabilities demonstrated last season.
Langston Love (Guard) vs. Graham Ike (Forward)
Langston Love is a key player for the Baylor Bears and played 24 games last season where he was able to score 11 points while grabbing almost three rebounds. On his shooting metrics, his overall contribution from deep was quite remarkable, converting 48% of his attempts. Love will need to be a big contributor if he wants to sustain or improve upon these numbers against Gonzaga’s defense, although his average assist and turnover numbers suggest potential growth in creating plays.
Graham Ike acted as the fulcrum of Gonzaga’s front court, averaging an outstanding 16.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game last season. In the field, his shooting efficiency of 60.9 percent was still efficient, which made him a great target in the paint. Besides adding to Gonzaga’s scoring, Ike’s presence also adds to their rebounding, one area they will be looking to exploit against Baylor’s tenacious rebounding effort.
The contest between Love and Ike on the court will be one to watch. Love’s off-the-dribble shots create a tussle for Ike, as he will need to assist more in the perimeter defense without compromising the interior part of the defense. On the other hand, hitting Love in foul trouble due to Ike’s ability to attract defenders may turn the phase of the game in favor of Gonzaga.
Deep Dive into Baylor’s Strategy
Last season, the Baylor Bears demonstrated formidable scoring capabilities, averaging 80.4 points per game with a 48.3% shooting accuracy from the field. Their three-point shooting was particularly effective, and continuing this trend will be vital against Gonzaga’s defense, which has shown vulnerabilities from deep in the past. Baylor’s ability to spread the floor and create shooting opportunities could be the key to unlocking Gonzaga’s tight defensive setup.
Analyzing Gonzaga’s Game Plan
Gonzaga notched slightly higher stats with 84.5 points per game on a 51.8% shooting performance from the field. Their balanced attack saw them excel in both inside scoring and perimeter plays, although their three-point shooting percentage slightly lagged behind Baylor’s. The Bulldogs’ strategy will likely involve exploiting their interior strength while also addressing perimeter defense to counter Baylor’s sharpshooters.
Trends
Baylor Bears Betting Trends
Baylor are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games against Gonzaga.
Baylor are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games against Gonzaga.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Baylor’s last 5 games on the road.
Baylor are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 games against an opponent in the West Coast conference.
Baylor are 7-0 SU in their last 7 games played in November.
Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Trends
Gonzaga are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games.
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Gonzaga’s last 12 games.
Gonzaga are 11-2 SU in their last 13 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Gonzaga’s last 6 games against Baylor.
Gonzaga are 18-2 SU in their last 20 games at home.
Baylor Bears vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Prediction
The matchup between Baylor and Gonzaga is one that presents a unique betting opportunity owing to the excellent displays that both teams have put up so far this season. This coupled with the fact that Baylor has a good record ATS against Gonzaga, having won consecutively in November, makes for a nice maiden bet at +3.5 in this game. Meanwhile, Gonzaga has shown consistency and a solid home record thus they are in contention for an outright victory.
For punters who are looking for value Bets, the over on 155.5 seems to be favorable considering the scoring rate of both teams. Make sure that you also visit the best betting sites for points related to the best odds and their revisions if any to get a clearer understanding of the situation.
Score Prediction: Bulldogs 82, Bears 79
