The sixth-seeded USC Trojans will look to spring the upset over the top-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs when they meet in a 2021 NCAA Tournament West Regional Final on Tuesday. The Trojans (25-7) shot 57 percent from the field in their Sweet 16 win over Oregon on Sunday, while holding the Ducks to 37 percent shooting from the floor. The Bulldogs (29-0), who are first in the nation in scoring margin at plus-23.3, advanced to the Elite Eight with an 83-65 win over fifth-seeded Creighton. Gonzaga is the tournament's top-overall seed for the first time.
The game from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis is slated to start at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs are 8.5-point favorites in the latest USC vs. Gonzaga odds from William Hill Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is set at 153. Before finalizing any Gonzaga vs. USC picks, check out the March Madness college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past four-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of $2,200 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Gonzaga vs. Southern Cal in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament 2021. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Southern Cal vs. Gonzaga:
- USC vs. Gonzaga spread: Gonzaga -8.5
- USC vs. Gonzaga over-under: 153 points
- USC vs. Gonzaga money line: USC +350, Gonzaga -450
- USC: Is 90-5 in its last 95 games when holding the opposition to under 70 points dating back to Feb. 28, 2015
- GONZ: Is one of 29 teams in Division 1 history to end the regular season unbeaten
Why Gonzaga can cover
The Bulldogs are 34-20 in the NCAA Tournament under Mark Few with a berth in all 22 of his seasons as coach. They are 28-16 all-time as a single-digit seed. Helping power the Zags is freshman guard Jalen Suggs, who has scored in double figures in six of the last eight games, including a 23-point performance against BYU in the West Coast Conference Tournament championship game. The likely 2021 NBA Draft lottery pick has one double-double, a 13-point, 11-rebound effort against Santa Clara on Feb. 25. For the season, he is averaging 13.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and two steals per game.
Also averaging in double figures for Gonzaga is junior guard Joel Ayayi, who is averaging 11.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He is connecting on 56.1 percent of his field goals, including 38.5 percent from 3-point range, and 80.4 percent from the free throw line. He is coming off a 13-point, eight-rebound effort against Creighton in the Sweet 16 on Sunday. He has recorded four double-doubles and one triple-double this season, including a 12-point, 13-rebound, 14-assist performance at Portland on Jan. 9.
Why USC can cover
The Trojans have also been on a tear with three wins in a row and victories in 20 of the past 25 games. Freshman forward Evan Mobley has helped power the Trojans, averaging 16.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and three blocks per game. Four other players are averaging 7.7 points per game or more. Among those is junior guard Drew Peterson, who has registered three double-doubles on the season, and has reached double figures in 17 games. He scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against both Oregon (Feb. 22) and Washington State (Jan. 16). For the season, Peterson is averaging 9.7 points, five rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
Another key to the Trojans' success has been the play of sophomore forward Isaiah Mobley, who averages 9.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. He is hitting on 46.5 percent of his field goals, including 44.4 percent from 3-point range. In the team's Sweet 16 win over Oregon, he scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. He has reached double figures in all three of USC's NCAA Tournament games, including 17 against third-seeded Kansas. He has posted six double-doubles on the year, including a 20-point, 12-rebound performance against Arizona State on Feb. 17.
How to make USC vs. Gonzaga picks
The model is leaning over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 154 points. It also says one side of the spread hits almost 60 percent of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins USC vs. Gonzaga? And which side of the spread hits almost 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the computer model that has crushed its college basketball picks.
