#14 Gonzaga vs Pepperdine: Odds, Predictions & Key Insights | December 30, 2024

Gonzaga finds itself in a prime bounce-back spot tonight after a narrow 65-62 loss to No. 22 UCLA on Saturday. The Bulldogs are hungry and head to Malibu to face a Pepperdine team untested against elite competition. With Gonzaga’s talent and motivation clashing with Pepperdine’s defensive struggles, this matchup has all the makings of a statement game for the Zags.

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#14 Gonzaga vs Pepperdine Odds

Will #14 Gonzaga bounce back after their tough loss to #22 UCLA?

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture among the top online sports betting sites. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a big bonus (100% if your first deposit is with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency) to bet on College Basketball games.

Spread

Gonzaga: -21 (-110)

Pepperdine: +21 (-110)

Total

Over: 158 (-110)

Under: 158 (-110)

#14 Gonzaga vs Pepperdine Predictions

The 6-8 Pepperdine Waves host the 9-4 No. 14 Gonzaga Bulldogs in a late-night WCC matchup. Pepperdine is coming off a 91-80 loss to Santa Clara, where they managed to cover the 14.5-point spread. Meanwhile, Gonzaga enters this game after a narrow 65-62 loss to No. 22 UCLA on Saturday. This feels like the ultimate “get-right” spot for the Bulldogs, who will be out for blood tonight in Malibu.

Bulldogs are Out For Blood

The Zags enter this game with the 13th toughest schedule in the nation, facing a Pepperdine team that has played the 87th easiest schedule. Despite the relatively easy schedule, Pepperdine has faced five teams ranked inside the top 110. However, four of those matchups occurred in the first two weeks of the season. The Waves have not performed well against top-100 competition, ranking in the high 200s in key metrics like adjusted defensive efficiency (296), turnover percentage defense (296), and three-point percentage defense (309).

This will be the best team the Waves have hosted in their gym this season. The strongest team they have faced at home so far is UC Davis, ranked 226th on Bart Torvik. Now they must contend with a team 221 spots ahead of UC Davis. Coming off a tough primetime loss to a UCLA team with a suffocating defense, the Bulldogs will now face a Pepperdine defense that has struggled mightily against top-100 teams. This will not be pretty for the Waves.

Haslametrics ranks Gonzaga as the 267th best team on the road, while Pepperdine is ranked 23rd at home. That discrepancy is puzzling, considering the Bulldogs have faced some of the nation’s best teams away from home and still boast a top-35 offense and defense. Gonzaga’s offense thrives on the interior, gets to the line, converts efficiently, and dominates the boards. Defensively, they excel at limiting three-point shooting, cleaning up the glass, and avoiding fouls.

I took Gonzaga last night at -22, and I do not think the number will matter. The Bulldogs remain one of the best teams in the country and an analytical darling. After ending non-conference play on a sour note, they should be highly motivated to begin conference play with a statement.