College Basketball Weekend Bets: Gonzaga, Duke, and Michigan State Predictions

There are a couple good showdowns this weekend and it seems like everyone wants to see how Gonzaga recovers from a 40-point loss to Michigan. The Bulldogs are typically on the winning side of those types of ugly beatdowns.

Gonzaga will try to bounce back against Kentucky when the teams play Friday night in Nashville. The Wildcats are thrashing overmatched foes this season but have lost all three of their “tough” games.

Come Saturday, Duke and Michigan State will square off in a much-anticipated showdown in Spartyville. The Thursday night slate is light with no ranked teams in action, but UC Santa Barbara sometimes sends players to the NBA so we’ll check them out against Long Beach State.

GONZAGA BULLDOGS AT KENTUCKY WILDCATS

No. 11 Gonzaga (7-1) was completely steamrolled in its 101-61 loss to Michigan at the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas and it’s surely been a painful week off as they arrive at the Music City Madness event in Nashville. Graham Ike had one point and zero rebounds and missed all nine of his field-goal attempts but he’s been solid against Kentucky the past two seasons, averaging 25.5 points as the teams split the meetings.

The Zags led by 18 in the second half last season in Seattle before the Wildcats stormed back to notch a 90-89 overtime victory. Otega Oweh had 13 points. He is averaging 13.4 points this season, second behind Denzel Aberdeen’s 13.5.

Something was off offensively during No. 18 Kentucky’s 67-64 home loss to North Carolina on Tuesday as the Wildcats (5-3) had just eight assists and were 1 of 13 from 3-point range. Repeat that against Gonzaga and there is little chance of winning this game.

Gonzaga minus 7-point spread -120 (DraftKings)

DUKE BLUE DEVILS VS. MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

No. 4 Duke just beat defending national champion Florida 67-66 on Tuesday and now travels to East Lansing, the type of scheduling Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian wouldn’t approve. The Blue Devils want freshman sensation Cameron Boozer ready for hostile environments but he’s well ahead of the curve with averages of 23.6 points and 9.3 rebounds.

No. 7 Michigan State (8-0) is putting together a good resume with neutral-court victories over Kentucky (83-66) and North Carolina (74-58) and a 69-66 home win over Arkansas. The Spartans lack star power but forward Jaxon Kohler (four double-doubles) and point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (9.4 assists) are vastly improved players.

But can Kohler and fellow big man Cooper Carson (9.6 ppg, 5.9 rebounds) keep Boozer from a dominating outing? Two 35-point outings to go with 29 against Florida say no.

Duke minus 1.5-point spread, -128 (FanDuel)

LONG BEACH STATE BEACH AT UC SANTA BARBARA GAUCHOS

These Big West rivals stand out in the nickname department. It’s hard not to like Gauchos while Long Beach State’s decision to change to Beach also stands out. Plus, the cozy gym in Santa Barbara often has a raucous atmosphere and the students have been known to toss tortillas on the court.

Former Saint Mary’s and UConn guard Aidan Mahaney (12.5 points per game) is a starter for the Gauchos (6-2). That’s one thing about UC Santa Barbara, you never know when you’re watching a future NBA player because who ever heard of Gabe Vincent (seventh NBA season) or Ajay Mitchell (15.0 scoring average off the bench for the Oklahoma City Thunder) when they were Gauchos?

Long Beach State (2-6) received 30 points from freshman Gavin Sykes in Sunday’s 76-72 home victory over San Diego. NBA alums you ask? How about Craig Hodges, Bryon Russell and Bob Gross.

UC Santa Barbara minus 12.5-point spread, -110 (DraftKings)