Atlantic Coast Conference basketball is celebrated as the best in the nation. Blue blood programs such as Duke and North Carolina headline its marquee. Number one seed Virginia is another proud ACC boast. Yet a Sweet Sixteen team has emerged from there that is not a celebrated basketball power. Florida State is pleasant surprise for the public betting NCAA basketball. As a middle of the road ACC regular season team they have been overlooked. Gonzaga is never overlooked. As a runner up last year the Bulldogs are aching for a second chance.
#9 Florida State Seminoles vs. #4 Gonzaga Bulldogs
Date and Time: Thursday, March 22, 2018 9:07 p.m. ET
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
NCAA Betting Online Odds at SBG:
| Team | Spread | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | +5½ (-110) | 153½ (-110) |  |
| Gonzaga | -5½ (-110) | 153½ (-110) | |
| |||
Seminoles vs. Bulldogs TV Coverage: TBS
Florida State
Florida State has paid in three of their last four for the public betting NCAA basketball. Overall the Seminoles are now 22-11 straight up. FSU has lost only 13 of 31 games vs. the line. Under the total has hit in four of their last six tilts. First round action saw a 67-54 payout over Mizzou. That was followed by a 75-70 cover against Xavier. Head coach Leonard Hamilton is in his 16th season at Florida State. This is his second Sweet Sixteen run for the Noles. March Madness has erased the disappointment of a 9-9 ACC record.
Gonzaga
Gonzaga has had quite an evolution through the years. Originally, they were the lovable underdog that would spring shocking upsets. Now they are a targeted national power. Overseeing this transformation is head coach Mark Few. Currently in this 19th season he has made the Zags into a name brand program. As a result, Gonzaga can often be an online offshore bookmaker overlay. Public money consistently flows toward the Bulldogs. Value has improved with six payouts in their last ten games. Over the total has cleared in five of their last seven. Few has built a team with no discernible weaknesses.
Team vs Team
Opening round action saw the Zags get by UNC Greensboro 68-64. Ohio State went down to Gonzaga 90-84 in the second round. Offensively the Bulldogs are the tenth highest scoring team in the country. Additionally, they rank sixth for three-point shooting. Defensively they are a solid 50th. Per game Mark Few’s team outscores opponents by an average of 84-67. Jonathan Williams leads Gonzaga with 14 points and eight rebounds per game. Since 2015 the Zags have finished no worse than the Sweet Sixteen in the Tournament.
Florida State’s strength is an offense that ranks 35th in the nation for scoring. Offsetting that is a subpar defense. Weak back end play is not a recipe for success against Gonzaga. Midnight has a way of striking for Cinderella in the Sweet Sixteen round. Hamilton’s impressive run will find the going rough on Thursday.
Matchup to Watch
Gonzaga is primed for a public betting NCAA basketball profit. Full court teams such as the Zags are rare these days. Florida State certainly deserves credit for their recent success. But FSU’s lack of consistent defense is likely to be exploited. Zags sharpshooters will get plenty of openings.
Seminoles vs. Bulldogs NCAA games Betting Odds Picks
Finally, Gonzaga is far and away the more compete team and the pick!
NCAA Betting Online Pick: Gonzaga Bulldogs
NCAA Betting Online Score Prediction: Bulldogs 88, Seminoles 73
Catch highlights of Gonzaga’s win over Ohio State!