Elite 8, Day 2 Preview

(6) USC v. (1) Gonzaga

This matchup will be the toughest test each team will face so far in the tournament. USC impressed in their controlled victory over Oregon in the Sweet 16 and before that they blew out Kansas in the Second Round. This Trojans team was unfairly handed a #6 seed despite being routinely ranked in the top-25 until late in the season. USC is led by a lethal duo of brothers, Evan and Isaiah Mobley, who are a great inside-outside tandem. The matchup to watch tonight will be the big man for USC, Evan Mobley, against Gonzaga’s interior threat, Drew Timme. Gonzaga has cakewalked all season and all tournament to get to this point. Their undefeated record is no mirage as they simply dominate opponents. This Bulldogs team is the number one offense in the country and they’ve scored over 80 points in 10 of their last 11 games overall. Gonzaga will beat you from a variety of different spots as Timme patrols the paint, Jalen Suggs can drive with speed, and Corey Kispert can drill shots from downtown. It is rare to see Gonzaga as a single digit favorite, and although this USC team is solid, you will feel like an idiot not taking the Bulldogs when they win by 12 later tonight.

The Bet: Gonzaga Spread

(11) UCLA v. (1) Michigan

UCLA is now the story of the tournament after Oregon State was eliminated last night. The Bruins needed a First Four victory to even make the real tournament and now they are one win away from the Final Four. UCLA is carried by their guard play as the trio of Johnny Juzang, Jaime Jaquez, and Tyger Campbell can beat you with speed when they drive the lane but can also pull up from deep and mid-range. If there is one weakness on Michigan’s side it is their guard play. The loss of starter Isaiah Livers has left them thin in the backcourt but, to be fair, Mike Smith has stepped up significantly in his absence, playing over 30 minutes a game since the Big Ten Conference Tournament. Inside there is an advantage to the Wolverines where Hunter Dickinson and Franz Wagner will face less opposition than they did against Florida State, a game where they dominated points in the paint. It pains me to say this as confirmed Michigan hater, but the Wolverines will win this game and they will do it from the inside out, but to say they are 7+ points better than UCLA is a disrespect to the Bruins and all they’ve done to get here.

The Bet: UCLA Spread

Fancy a Parlay?

Gonzaga & Michigan to Win

Other Bets to Consider:

USC v. Gonzaga Over 153 Total Points

UCLA v. Michigan Over 135 Total Points

USC First Half Spread

Michigan First Half Spread