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He Gonzaga Bulldogs They will look to avoid an upset against the 12-seeded McNeese State Cowboys in their 2024 NCAA Tournament first-round matchup in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Zags (25-7, 14-2 WCC) are appearing in their 25th consecutive NCAA Tournament, the third-longest active streak behind Kansas (34) and Michigan State (26). Mark Few has won 14 consecutive first-round games and has advanced to the Sweet 16 in eight consecutive postseasons. No team has won more NCAA Tournament games since 2017 (20).
Gonzaga has won nine of its last 10 games with its only loss coming to Saint Mary’s in the championship game of the West Coast Conference Tournament. As of February 4, he ranks No. 1 in the country in effective field goal percentage, No. 3 in offensive efficiency and No. 4 in 2-point field goal percentage. The Bulldogs also have the sixth-lowest turnovers in the country over their last 10 games.
The Cowboys (30-3, 17-1 Southland) are riding an 11-game winning streak into the first round, the third-longest streak in the country, and will appear in the program’s first NCAA Tournament since 2002. In the first season Will Wade as head coach, McNeese State set a program record for total wins and tied their best mark for conference wins in a season. Only UConn, Houston and James Madison have 30 or more wins heading into the postseason.
McNeese State has the best scoring margin (18.9) in the country and is eighth in 3-point field goal percentage (38.8%). According to Hoop-math.com, he attempts the tenth most shots at the rim in college basketball. The Cowboys also rank third in defensive field goal percentage (38.5%), steals (10.4) and turnover margin (6.7).
Wade’s team only played two NET top 100 teams all season and only one Quad 1 game (VCU in the season opener). The Southland Conference is ranked 28th out of 33 Division I conferences by KenPom. The Cowboys beat only one team that made the NCAA Tournament (UAB).
According to Fox Sports, Gonzaga is 17-10 ATS when playing as a fifth seed or worse in the NCAA Tournament. Double-digit qualifiers have covered 49.7% of the time in the round of 16 since 1985, while underdogs have covered 50.9% of the all-time time in the first round. A No. 12 seed has won 53 first-round games since the field was expanded in 1985.
This season, Gonzaga is 14-15 against the spread and 3-4 ATS on neutral floors. McNeese State is 15-11-1 ATS and has covered four of its five games as an underdog.
Gonzaga vs. McNeese State Betting Odds
Check out the latest betting odds for this matchup by Sports betting YES.
money line: Gonzaga (-333)
Spread: Gonzaga -7.5 (-105)
Below: 149.5 (-118)
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