Gonzaga Bulldogs vs Santa Clara Broncos Picks and Predictions January 18th 2025

Gonzaga Bulldogs vs Santa Clara Broncos January 18th 2025

Looking to win big? The Broncos and Bulldogs face off at 9:00 ET on ESPN+. The Bulldogs are hosting the game at McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, WA. The odds for this West Coast conference game currently have Gonzaga as the -12.5 point favorite with the over/under line sitting at 158.5 points.

Broncos vs. Bulldogs Key Information

• Sport: CBB
• Teams: Santa Clara Broncos at Gonzaga Bulldogs
• Where: Spokane at McCarthey Athletic Center
• Date: Saturday, January 18th
• Betting Odds GNZG -12.5, SANCLR +590 | GNZG -900 O/U 158.5

The Broncos Can Win If…

Santa Clara Broncos Recent Game/Games

Santa Clara’s season record dropped to 12-7 after a 57-54 road loss to Loyola Marymount on Thursday. The Broncos, who entered the game as -4.5 favorites, failed to cover the spread.

Trailing 29-26 at halftime, Santa Clara couldn’t make up ground in the 2nd half, as both teams scored 28 points. The game’s total points (111) fell well short of the 148.5 O/U line.

Santa Clara’s offense struggled in their last game, putting up just 54 points with a field goal percentage of 36.2%. Their effective field goal percentage was 39.7%, and they hit only 4 of 26 attempts from beyond the arc, shooting 15.4% from three-point range.

Christoph Tilly led the way with 25 points, shooting 66.7% from the field. Caleb Stone-Carrawell added 19 points, and Adama-Alpha Bal contributed 14 points and 5 assists. The Broncos connected on 8 of 10 free throws, and grabbed 10 offensive rebounds.

Santa Clara’s defense held their opponent to just 57 points, allowing them to shoot 41% from the field. The Broncos gave up 20 two-point baskets on 38 attempts, a 52% success rate.

From beyond the arc, Santa Clara limited their opponent to 3 threes on 18 attempts, just 16% shooting. They sent the other team to the line 11 times, where they hit 8 free throws, a 72% rate.

• Through their last ten road games, Santa Clara has an ATS record of just 3-7. However, their overall record was 3-7 while averaging 71 points per game.
• Through their last five games as the betting underdog, the Broncos have a strong record vs the spread going 3-2. Their straight up mark in these contests is 2-3.
• Over their last five games, the Broncos have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 2-3 vs. the spread.

The Bulldogs Can Win If…

Gonzaga Bulldogs Recent Game/Games

Gonzaga’s season record moved to 14-5 after a 97-89 road loss to Oregon State on Thursday. The Bulldogs, who were -9 favorites, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread.

Gonzaga trailed 46-45 at halftime and scored 38 points in the 2nd half while allowing 37. The total points for the game reached 186, surpassing the O/U line of 150.5.

Gonzaga put up 89 points in their last game, shooting 41.7% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 47.2%. They hit 36% from beyond the arc, going 9-for-25, and were strong at the free-throw line, making 20 of 25 attempts for 80%. The Bulldogs also grabbed 19 offensive rebounds and dished out 19 assists.

Michael Rataj led the way with 29 points, shooting 60% overall and 66.7% from three. Graham Ike added 26 points, hitting 9 of 14 shots, including his only three-point attempt. Nate Kingz contributed 20 points, connecting on 3 of 4 from downtown, while Damarco Minor and Ben Gregg each chipped in 15 points, with Gregg pulling down 13 rebounds.

Gonzaga’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 97 points on 58% shooting from the field. They allowed 64% shooting on two-pointers, with the opposing team hitting 25 of 39 attempts.

From beyond the arc, Gonzaga’s defense gave up 6 threes on 14 attempts, a 42% shooting rate. They also sent the other team to the line 37 times, where they converted 29 free throws, shooting 78%.

• Across their three previous home games, Gonzaga has an ATS mark of 1-2. Their straight up record in these matchups was 2-1 while averaging 91 points per game.
• Through their previous five contests as the betting favorite, the Bulldogs have a strong record of 4-1. Their record vs the spread in these matchups is 1-4.
• In their last five games, the Bulldogs have an over/under record of 1-4 and are 0-5 vs. the spread.

The Lean

For a point-spread wager in this Bulldogs vs. Bulldogs game, we suggest taking the Bulldogs at -12.5. Even though our predictions have the Bulldogs winning 77-71, we see the Broncos as the better choice on the point-spread.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 158.5, and our model predicts the Broncos and Bulldogs to score a combined 148 points. We recommend betting on the under.

No. 16 Gonzaga Aims for Defensive Improvement Against Santa Clara

The Gonzaga Bulldogs, ranked No. 16 in the nation, return home to face the Santa Clara Broncos on Saturday night in Spokane, Washington. Both teams are coming off disappointing losses and will look to regroup in this pivotal West Coast Conference matchup.

Santa Clara: Seeking a Rare Road Win

Santa Clara (12-7, 4-2 WCC) achieved a historic victory over Gonzaga last season, snapping a 26-game losing streak against the Bulldogs with a thrilling 77-76 win at home. However, the Broncos face a daunting challenge in Spokane, where they haven’t won since 2007, dropping 17 straight road games to Gonzaga.

The Broncos enter the game with momentum disrupted after a 57-54 loss to Loyola Marymount on Thursday, marking their lowest-scoring performance of the season. Santa Clara’s shooting woes were evident as they went just 4-for-26 from beyond the arc while committing 13 turnovers.

“We shot ourselves in the foot,” Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek said. “A couple of those shots go down and the game might have a completely different feel to it.”

Adama-Alpha Bal leads the team in scoring at 13.7 points per game and is complemented by Christoph Tilly (12.9 ppg), Elijah Mahi (12.6 ppg), and Carlos Stewart Jr. (12.2 ppg). Tilly, fresh off a 25-point effort against Loyola Marymount, will be a key factor as the Broncos look to rekindle their offensive rhythm.

Gonzaga: Focused on Defensive Adjustments

Gonzaga (14-5, 5-1 WCC) enters Saturday’s game looking to shore up its defense after a 97-89 overtime loss to Oregon State. The Bulldogs allowed their highest point total of the season, with the Beavers shooting an impressive 58.5% from the field.

“We let guys drive on us, we let guys knock down threes,” said Gonzaga point guard Ryan Nembhard. “Pretty much everything that we shouldn’t allow.”

Despite the defensive lapses, Graham Ike continued his stellar season with 26 points and nine rebounds, marking his eighth 20-point game of the year. “He delivered time and time again,” said head coach Mark Few. “Our offense wasn’t the problem—our defense was.”

Ike leads Gonzaga in scoring (17.1 ppg) and rebounding (7.5 rpg), while Khalif Battle (13.5 ppg) and Nembhard (11.5 ppg, 9.4 apg) add offensive firepower. Nembhard’s 9.4 assists per game ties him for the national lead, showcasing his ability to facilitate the Bulldogs’ high-octane offense.

Key Matchups

Adama-Alpha Bal vs. Gonzaga’s Defense: Bal’s scoring and playmaking will test Gonzaga’s defensive adjustments. After shutting down Gonzaga in their last meeting, Bal will look to replicate that success.

Graham Ike vs. Christoph Tilly: The battle of big men could determine the game’s outcome. Ike’s dominance inside will need to be countered by Tilly, who has the offensive tools to challenge Gonzaga’s frontcourt.

Nembhard’s Playmaking vs. Santa Clara’s Perimeter Defense: With Nembhard orchestrating Gonzaga’s offense, Santa Clara must disrupt passing lanes and limit his assists to control the game’s tempo.

History Favors Gonzaga

While Santa Clara snapped its overall losing streak to Gonzaga last season, the Bulldogs have historically dominated the series, particularly at home. Gonzaga will aim to leverage their home-court advantage and strong offensive capabilities to bounce back from their overtime loss.

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What’s at Stake

For Gonzaga, this game is a chance to reset defensively and reassert their dominance in the WCC standings. Santa Clara, meanwhile, will look to build on last season’s breakthrough win and end a 16-year drought in Spokane.

With both teams motivated to rebound from recent setbacks, Saturday’s matchup promises to be a high-energy clash. Will Gonzaga’s defense tighten up, or can Santa Clara defy the odds on the road? Fans can expect a compelling showdown in Spokane.