The Santa Clara Broncos and the Gonzaga Bulldogs meet Thursday in college basketball action from McCarthey Athletic Center. Santa Clara is 16-7 on the year so far. The Broncos lost to Pacific in their last game. As for Gonzaga, they’re 18-4 overall after a Saturday win over Portland. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
Santa Clara Broncos
Santa Clara managed a 13-3 run over their first 16 games this year, losing to only Utah State, UCF and San Jose State. The Broncos are 3-4 since then with losses to Saint Mary’s, Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s again and Pacific
Matched up against Pacific on Saturday, the Broncos trailed 46-39 by halftime. Santa Clara scored 50 in the second half but still lost 95-89. Brandin Podziemski was tops in scoring with 38 points and nine rebounds.
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Over on the Gonzaga side, they lost to only Texas, Purdue and Baylor over their first 16 outings. The Bulldogs are 5-1 since then with wins over Santa Clara, BYU< Portland, Pacific and Portland again.
In the rematch versus Portland on Saturday, the Bulldogs went into the locker room up 35-29. Gonzaga got even better from there on a 47-38 run in an 82-67 win. Julian Strawther led the team on 40 points with six rebounds.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’m going to stick with Gonzaga. The Bulldogs have a one-point loss to LMU on the books over their last 14 games, but that’s been the only real blemish in that time. Gonzaga managed an 81-76 win at Leavey Center the last time these teams met back on January 7. If the Bulldogs can keep up the offensive onslaught in this rematch I think they’ll be fine cover-wise. Santa Clara has struggled against some tough teams over this current 3-4 stretch, and this one’s not going to get any easier. I don’t think the Broncos will be able to keep up if Gonzaga gets going.