#9 Georgia vs #8 Gonzaga NCAAB Pick: Bulldogs Clash with Streak on the Line (Mar 20)

• Georgia was bounced from the SEC tourney’s 1st round in an 81-75 loss to Oklahoma.
• Gonzaga claimed the WCC’s automatic bid after taking down rival Saint Mary’s, 58-51.
• These two teams last met on November 26, 2014, in a game that Gonzaga won 88-76.

Georgia and Gonzaga meet in a key first-round clash of the Bulldogs. Gonzaga’s streak of nine consecutive Sweet 16 appearances will be on the line in this game. The winner will likely meet #1 Houston in an even tougher second-round battle. First, they need to emerge as the top dog.

Gonzaga Fights to Maintain Streak

Gonzaga is looking to make it ten consecutive Sweet 16 appearances this year, but enters the tournament with one of their lowest seedings. In order to keep the streak alive, the Zags will certainly be thinking about Houston. They need to avoid looking ahead to prevent an upset.

Georgia is battle tested and won’t make things easy, so they need to be at their best. Ranking in the top-10 offensively, Gonzaga will aim to apply pressure early and often. They don’t have many signature wins, but Graham Ike and Ryan Nembhard are among NCAA basketball’s best.

Georgia Aiming for Surprise Upset

Georgia finished 8-10 in the SEC, but earned a 9-seed thanks to the strength of the conference. They also notched an impressive non-conference victory over 2-seed St. John’s. The Bulldogs enter as pretty decent underdogs, but have the advantage of signature wins under their belt.

Leading scorer Asa Newell leads the way for Georgia. He’s had some issues staying out of foul trouble, especially in key games against St. John’s and Alabama. Whether or not Newell is able to stay on the court against Gonzaga’s relentless offense will play a major role in this matchup.

Georgia Bulldogs vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Pick

Georgia is certainly battle-tested and capable as a team. If Gonzaga overlooks them for even a second, it’s over for them. That being said, a focused Zags team should have some notable advantages over their Bulldog rivals. Their offense is going to be hard to slow down without fouling, which could put Newell in jeopardy. Take Gonzaga to win this one by double digits.