🏀 Santa Clara vs. Gonzaga Prediction: College Basketball Odds & Picks (March 10)

Gonzaga will try to win its 23rd and final West Coast Conference tournament title today when it faces Santa Clara in the championship game. Tipoff from the Orleans Arena in Paradise, Nev., is set for 9 p.m. ET (ESPN).

Before the Bulldogs bounce for the Pac-12, my Santa Clara vs. Gonzaga prediction today is counting on them to put on one last show. Gonzaga is a 7.5-point betting favorite, but I like the Over (159.5) in a potential track meet of a WCC final.

🏀 Santa Clara vs. Gonzaga picks & odds: March 10

See all of our experts' college basketball picks based on the latest college basketball odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.

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💰 Santa Clara vs. Gonzaga prediction & best bet

Our college basketball conference tournament guide features everything you need to know ahead of Selection Sunday.

Over 159.5 (-106)

I feel like the Under was an automatic play in the WCC title game every year. But replacing Saint Mary's with Santa Clara makes this final much more likely to turn into a track meet.

The Broncos rank 65th in adjusted tempo and are 69th in 3-point rate. Gonzaga, meanwhile, is 91st in tempo and 34th in adjusted offensive efficiency.

That recipe has led to the two teams combining for 346 points in the two regular-season meetings, including 180 in their most recent matchup on Feb. 14.

After the total dropped below 160, I like the value of the Over on Tuesday. FanDuel offers the best price tag.

Score prediction: Gonzaga 84 - Santa Clara 79

🔥 Best Santa Clara vs. Gonzaga player prop bet

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

Graham Ike Over 8.5 rebounds (-130)

Santa Clara hasn't been able to keep Gonzaga forward Graham Ike off the glass in either of the two regular-season matchups.

In the most recent battle, Ike grabbed a season-high 15 boards. He collected a dozen defensive rebounds. This came after Ike recorded 11 rebounds in the first meeting, including seven on the defensive end.

Ike, who is averaging 8.4 rebounds per game, has cleared this line in 16 of his 27 starts this season.

This line is only available at bet365, but it's the lone player prop I'm interested in tonight.

🚀 Santa Clara vs. Gonzaga same-game parlay

My Santa Clara vs. Gonzaga parlay focuses on my three picks for tonight's game. I really like the value of the Over in what could be a high-scoring matchup. Adding Santa Clara's spread and Graham Ike's rebounding line aren't correlated, which helped boost the odds to a juicy +625 at bet365.

💡 How I'm betting Santa Clara vs. Gonzaga

I think this year's WCC title game is interesting because it's different from what we've become used to as fans and bettors. 

Gonzaga and Saint Mary's have faced each other in this round for the past four years, with most matchups turning into rock fights. But Gonzaga would prefer to play faster, and it will get that opportunity against Santa Clara tonight.

As a result, I'm a big fan of the Over as my favorite pick in Gonzaga's last WCC title game.

📊 Live Santa Clara vs. Gonzaga odds

Gonzaga opened as a 6.5-point favorite, but the spread has climbed to 7.5 as of Tuesday morning. The total has dropped from 162 to 159.5.

While I understand these moves, I don't agree with them. I just don't think we can use the historical trends of the WCC final in this case.

I'd be surprised if the spread climbed or total dropped much further, but I'm sticking with my preference of the Santa Clara side and the Over.

📈 Santa Clara vs. Gonzaga betting trends

📺 How to watch Santa Clara vs. Gonzaga

• Date: Tuesday, March 10
• Tipoff: 9 p.m. ET
• Location: Orleans Arena (Paradise, Nev.)
• TV: ESPN