NBA Postseason Best Bets (5/17)
Alex Christenson
The college basketball season is less than two weeks away, and here at FTN Bets we have you covered for what promises to be another thrilling year of upsets and incredible finishes. I will be taking you around the country with a betting preview of the major conferences and mid-major teams. I recap the betting trends from last season, list projected starters, preview the season, identify a key player and reveal how I’m backing or fading each team.
Let’s continue our preview with the Gonzaga Bulldogs. It’s not disrespectful to Gonzaga to classify them as a “mid-major,” it is simply a reminder of how great this program is every year. Mark Few enters his 25th season having won 28 or more games a remarkable 11 straight seasons. Gonzaga’s goal every year is a Final Four, which is incredible given they still play in the West Coast Conference (although that is rumored to change.)
Few annually builds a National Championship contender and offsets limited WCC competition with one of the best non-conference schedules in the nation. This season, the Bulldogs will face Purdue, USC and defending champion Connecticut before starting the WCC schedule.
Let’s continue our betting previews with the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
2023-2024 Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Preview
Conference: WCC
Head Coach: Mark Few (25th season)
2022-2023 Record: 31-6 (14-2)
ATS: 14-21-2
O/U: 21-15
Projected Starters: G Ryan Nembhard, G Nolan Hickman, F Steele Venters, F Anton Watson, F Graham Ike
Preview: Mark Few’s Gonzaga Bulldogs have won at least 28 games every year for the last 11 seasons. That is simply remarkable consistency. They ended the season with a loss to eventual champion UConn in the Elite 8 after winning their 11th straight WCC regular season championship. They are an elite college basketball program that is missing just one jewel to complete their crown – a National Championship. Few will attack this season through the transfer portal, securing a top-10 transfer class, per 247 Sports. Graham Ike, Ryan Nembhard and Steele Venters should all find their way to the starting lineup, with Nolan Hickman and Anton Watson providing experience from last year’s roster. Don’t overlook 6-foot-10 Ben Gregg, who is one of the most efficient role players in the nation.
Key Player: Ryan Nembhard
For this team to make a Final Four, Nembhard needs to raise his level of play even higher. The former Big East Freshman of the Year has joined Gonzaga, following in the footsteps of his brother, Andrew. From his freshman to sophomore season, Nembhard improved his 3P accuracy from 31 to 35.6%, while dropping his turnover rate from 3.1 to 2.1. He also posted several big scoring performances, including 25 points against Arkansas at the Maui Jim Invitational, 21 points in a double-overtime loss at Providence and a superb 30-point outburst in an upset of Baylor in the Round of 32. Hickman and Watson are unproven scorers, and Venters’ production may slow down as he transfers up from the Big Sky to the WCC. The spotlight is on Nembhard to become a major force on offense for Gonzaga, and he could be their go-to scorer late in games. With the graduation of Drew Timme, that is the biggest question mark for the Zags.
Projection: It would be poetic justice for Few to win the National Championship as he enters his 25th season leading the Bulldogs. I love the balance of talent on this team which should be one of the most unselfish in college basketball. There are always rumors of Gonzaga changing conferences, and the migration of BYU to the Big 12 should expedite that change. The Bulldogs are left with Saint Mary’s and San Francisco as their only legitimate WCC competition. This team has fantastic balance with the addition of Ike and Nembhard, one of the best inside-outside tandems in the nation. I love Mark Few and I love this Gonzaga team, which I expect to be a legitimate championship contender again in March.
How I’m Betting Gonzaga: For second year in a row, Gonzaga failed to post an ATS record over .500. Their defense struggled, which led to a 21-15 record to the over. The sneaky unknown betting stat for Gonzaga? They are 8-15 (34.7%) ATS in neutral site games the past two seasons. This team has offensive questions entering the season, lacking that true dominant scorer. Drew Timme could always be relied upon for a basket, can Ike and Nembhard fill that void? Ike missed all of last year with a foot injury but averaged 19.5 PPG the previous season at Wyoming. Nembhard is a great point guard but will need to increase his career 12.1 PPG average. I’m likely fading Gonzaga on their non-conference schedule, especially against elite opponents. I would also look to bet on their overs, as I was not impressed with the Bulldogs defense (73rd in adjusted defensive efficiency, 3rd in WCC) last year.
