LSU vs. Gonzaga Prediction: College Basketball Picks & Odds (Nov. 14)

Will Wade is back for a second stint as LSU head coach and leads his Tigers into a road environment against No. 14 Gonzaga as part of the Bad Boy Mowers Series. My LSU vs. Gonzaga prediction expects the Tigers’ talented roster to be able to overcome the challenges of playing the Bulldogs in Spokane, enough to cover the spread.

Tipoff from Spokane Numerica Veterans Arena is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. Gonzaga is a 5.5-point betting favorite, with the total sitting at 161.5.

LSU vs. Gonzaga picks & odds

See all of our experts' college basketball picks based on the latest college basketball odds.

Picks submitted: Nov. 14 at 7:20 a.m. ET. Odds subject to change. 

Total wagered: 3 units | Profit if all picks win: 2.82 units

LSU vs. Gonzaga best bet

LSU +5.5 (-110 via DraftKings)

I had real concerns over what LSU’s roster would look like early in the season, especially when it had just four eligible players even after classes begun. But after eligibility cases were determined, Will Wade’s roster is stockpiled with talent, enough that the Tigers took care of business in beating three sub-250 KenPom teams in wins by 43, 41, and 40 points to start the season.

Wade is familiar with Mark Few’s scheme as his McNeese State team was blown out by 21 points by Gonzaga in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in 2024. But this year’s Tigers roster has much more size to contend with the Bulldogs, led by 7-foot freshman Michael Ruzic, 7-foot French big man Brice Dessert, and 6-foot-8 Kentucky transfer Mo Dioubate.

Gonzaga shooting under 46% from 2-point range against Purdue in the season opener is a concern for me against LSU’s interior size.

Play to: +5.5 (-120)

Score prediction: Gonzaga 82, LSU 80

LSU vs. Gonzaga player props

Follow all of our college basketball analysis and expert predictions this season.

Mo Dioubate Under 9.5 points (+100 via bet365)

Davis Fogle stood out for Gonzaga in the team’s win against Purdue after scoring a team-high 22 points. But what didn’t necessarily show up in the box score was him limiting Purdue’s only true returning veteran, C.J. Cox, to 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting.

Fogle posted the third-highest DBPM (Defensive Box Plus-Minus) against Purdue for the Bulldogs. He also recorded an even higher 3.3 DBPM in 16.8 minutes per game last season, which ranked 26th among all freshmen who played a minimum of 10 minutes per game.

I expect Fogle to draw the Dioubate assignment, while using his 6-foot-7 frame to bother the wing player who is one of six Tigers averaging double figures (12.7 points per game).

Play to: Under 9.5 (-115)

Xaivian Lee Under 1.5 3-pointers (-110 via bet365)

Lee shot just 29.2% from beyond the arc at Florida last year, his worst 3-point shooting percentage since his freshman year at Princeton when he played just 31.7% of the team’s minutes. Lee became much more of a facilitator in his first year of SEC play, finishing seventh in assist rate, though his highest shot volume was from 3-point range (five 3-point attempts per game in SEC play).

The last time Wade coached LSU in 2022, the Tigers finished with the country’s fourth-best 3-point percentage allowed. I expect him to pressure Lee with a bevy of athletic guards and dare him to put the ball on the floor, while also expecting regression from his 4-for-7 start from beyond the arc.

Play to: Under 1.5 (-120)

Live LSU vs. Gonzaga odds

See the latest odds movement and more on our LSU vs. Gonzaga matchup page. 

Latest LSU vs. Gonzaga injuries

There are no injuries to report on either side.

How to watch LSU vs. Gonzaga

• Date: Saturday, Nov. 14
• Tipoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Spokane Numerica Veterans Arena (Spokane, Wash.)
• TV/Streaming: USA Network