Barry Recks
The Pepperdine Waves have a chance to pull off a shocking upset win at home this Saturday when they host Mark Few’s Gonzaga Bulldogs. The question for Pepperdine, however, is whether they have enough firepower to keep up with Gonzaga. For the Bulldogs, it’s simple: can they avoid an upset loss?
Read on for more about this Gonzaga vs Pepperdine matchup in the 2022-23 college basketball season, including the latest odds, pick, and prediction to win this showdown, as brought to you by JefeBet. Also, don’t forget to check out the other NCAAB game previews here to help you make the best betting decisions.
Predictions and Betting Preview for the Gonzaga Bulldogs vs Pepperdine Waves College Basketball Game on February 18, 2023
- Where: Firestone Fieldhouse, Malibu, California
- When: Saturday, February 18, 2023, 7:00 PM ET
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Betting on the Gonzaga Bulldogs
- Regular Season Record: 22-5
Although they are no longer undefeated in conference play, there is no denying that Gonzaga is still a force in the West Coast Conference. One of their losses in the conference was against the ranked Saint Mary’s Gael’s on the road and the other was against the Loyola Marymount Lions in a stunning upset loss in Spokane.
Pepperdine isn’t on the level of either of those two Gonzaga conquerors, so the Bulldogs should be able to flex their muscles without much trouble versus the Waves, just like in the first meeting.
The Bulldogs crushed Pepperdine at home last December, 111-88. Drew Timme led the Bulldogs with 35 points, while Julian Strawther pumped in 22 points in that game. As a team, Gonzaga shot 61 percent from the field. Given that Gonzaga arguably has the best offense in the nation and Pepperdine has one of the worst defenses in Division I basketball, the Bulldogs should have all the confidence in the world to win on Saturday. The Bulldogs are 3-1 ATS in their last four games versus Pepperdine.
Betting on the Pepperdine Waves
- Regular Season Record: 9-18
Pepperdine looked good when it won two of its first three games this February, but is back to its losing ways after falling victim to the San Francisco Dons last Saturday on the road, 88-80. Still, those two home wins against the Portland Pilots (94-93) and the BYU Cougars (92-80) did show that there is life in the Waves. While their defense has been so porous this season, the Waves know how to get their buckets.
They are 40th in the nation as of this writing with 76.9 points per game and 25th in Division I basketball with 28.4 field goals per outing. Their outside shooting has been prolific of late as well, draining a total of 21 3-pointers in their last two games on 49 attempts. Sophomore Maxwell Lewis forward Maxwell Lewis, who leads Pepperdine with 17.6 PPG, had 20 points on 9/14 shooting in the loss to Gonzaga. Pepperdine is 2-0 ATS in its last two home games.
JefeBet Prediction
Gonzaga will score a ton of points again in this game, as Pepperdine just doesn’t have what it takes on defense.
Prediction: Gonzaga covers.
