A trip to the Sweet 16 is on the line as the No. 4 seed Kansas Jayhawks match up against the No. 5 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs in a second-round matchup in the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Saturday. These teams have only squared off once in their storied histories. In Nov. 2020, the Bulldogs defeated the Jayhawks 102-90. Kansas is without guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (knee), but the Jayhawks did get center Hunter Dickinson back from a shoulder injury in the first round against Samford and he recorded 19 points and 20 rebounds.
Tipoff from the Delta Center in Utah is set for 3:15 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs are 3.5-point favorites in the latest Gonzaga vs. Kansas odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 152. Before making any Kansas vs. Gonzaga picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters the 2024 NCAA tournament on a 148-106 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It also has a strong 29-19 (+810) record on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Kansas vs. Gonzaga. You can head to SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Gonzaga vs. Kansas:
- Gonzaga vs. Kansas spread: Bulldogs -3.5
- Gonzaga vs. Kansas over/under: 152 points
- Gonzaga vs. Kansas money line: Bulldogs -175, Jayhawks +146
- ZAGS: 16-16 ATS this season
- KU: 13-18-1 ATS this season
- Gonzaga vs. Kansas picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Gonzaga can cover
Junior guard Nolan Hickman is a poised force in the backcourt. Hickman has great handles and can change paces in a blink of an eye. He averages 13.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. The Washington native totaled 11 points and made three 3-pointers in his last matchup.
Junior guard Ryan Nembhard can score in the mid-range or the lane with no problem while also being an active passer. He puts up a team-best 6.8 assists while averaging 12.8 points per game. He's finished with a double-double in three of his last four games. On Mar. 12 against Saint Mary's, Nembhard had 13 points, 11 assists and two steals. See which team to pick at SportsLine.
Why Kansas can cover
With McCullar Jr out for the tournament, the Jayhawks need others to step up in his absence and freshman guard Johnny Furphy is one of the players ready for the moment. Furphy does a great job spacing the floor and has great awareness. He averages nine points, 4.8 rebounds and shoots 35% from beyond the arc. He's scored in double figures in six of his last 10 games. In Thursday's win over Samford, Furphy totaled 16 points, eight rebounds and made two threes.
Junior guard Dajuan Harris Jr. is extremely quick with the ball. He gets by defenders with ease to either score or dish the rock. He logs 8.5 points and 6.4 assists per game. In his last game, Harris Jr. notched 13 points and seven dimes. See which team to pick at SportsLine.
How to make Gonzaga vs. Kansas picks
The model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 153 points. It also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Kansas vs. Gonzaga, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the computer model that is 29-19 on top-rated college basketball spread picks this season.
