College Basketball Picks: Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. BYU Cougars

The Gonzaga Bulldogs (27-2) could end up being the top-ranked team in the country by the end of the week, which is important to consider when making your college basketball picks on Thursday, when they travel to take on the BYU Cougars (20-9).

Sports bettors will find that the Bulldogs are 6.5-point favorites in the NCAA basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 147 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this West Coast Conference affair from a betting perspective, while offering up an against-the-spread pick along the way.

Gonzaga Bulldogs

The Gonzaga Bulldogs have won their last 10 games by an average of 22.7 points. They come off an 81-50 blowout victory over San Diego as 22.5-point home favorites last Saturday.

Sports bettors will find that the Bulldogs are 13-16 against the spread on the road over the last two-plus seasons.

BYU Cougars

The BYU Cougars will try to bounce back from a 64-57 setback to the Saint Mary's Gaels as 8.5-point road underdogs a week ago, having gone UNDER the total in two consecutive contests.

Over the last two-plus seasons, the Cougars have won 10 of their 12 games on five or six days' rest, but have gone 4-8 against the spread in that situation.

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the BYU Cougars as one of their college basketball picks against the spread, as they'll tip off as a home underdog for the first time in eight years under coach Dave Rose.

College Basketball Pick: BYU Cougars +6.5

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