Thursday is rapidly approaching when means the March Madness Betting Odds 2024 are ready. The more established teams not subject to the play-in games commence action in the Round of 64 (Round One). At Online Sports Betting, we preview what might be an intriguing matchup. So, first, we look at the Cowboys vs Bulldogs bets featuring the McNeese State Cowboys going up against the Gonzaga Bulldogs. In theory, there should be plenty of points.
- WHAT: McNeese State Cowboys versus Gonzaga Bulldogs
- WHEN: Thursday, March 21st, 2024, 7:25 pm ET on TBS or streamed on FUBO TV
- WHERE: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
- WHY: Midwest Round One Matchup
The bettors expect to have so many screens at the ready for Thursday. The Cowboys vs Bulldogs bets expect to be one of those games. Now, Gonzaga comes in as a team trying to bounce back after another loss to Saint Mary's. Can the Bulldogs take care of business against a frenetic team like McNeese State. Our numbers here come courtesy of Bovada Online Sportsbook.
| NCAAM Round 1 Midwest |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| McNeese State | -110 | -108 | -105 |
| Gonzaga (-6) | -110 | -112 | -115 |
Cowboys vs Bulldogs Bets Wonder About Gonzaga's Bite
Cowboys vs Bulldogs bets wonder about Gonzaga's bite. So, what happened this season with Mark Few and Gonzaga? It's somewhat of a mystery. However, the Bulldogs were actually ranked outside the Top 25 after a loss to Saint Mary's. It felt weird and looked even more strange when looking at all those Top 25 polls. You expected Gonzaga to be there and the Bulldogs were not. Inevitably, the question was asked. Is this the end of Gonzaga as we know it?
Honestly, no one still quite knows the answer to the question. Gonzaga did not go gently into that good night. The WCC stalwarts found a way to start winning games again. Though they fell to Saint Mary's again in their conference tournament, the Bulldogs appeared to be more like themselves. The pace was back and their defense slightly improved too. That kept the Bulldogs close against Saint Mary's.
Let's rumble with this Thursday night game. Can Gonzaga play at a track-like level against a team that views offense somewhat the same way. This game could see more than 150 points combined. Some do not believe it but the potential exists.
The Offenses Floor The Gas Pedal
Cowboys vs Bulldogs bets understand the offenses floor the gas pedal. Again, these are two teams where 80+ points is quite common and almost expected. McNeese State has won 30 games on the season while averaging 80.4 points a contest while Gonzaga is nearly at 85 points a night. Now, the Southland Conference Champions dominated the league going 17-1. The Cowboys rank seventh in offensive rating. By the way, the Bulldogs rank third in the same metric.
Both teams feature four players who can easily take over games. They all average double figures and yet there are some subtle differences. McNeese State utilizes Christian Shumate as kind of a "three". He is half small-forward and half swing guard. It will be fun almost to see how CJ Felder and Antavion Collum play a role in slowing down Gonzaga's forwards. Something tells us slow will not be in the vocabulary.
Those are a few of the reasons why we believe these two teams will score some points. Gonzaga could potentially top 90 points even in such a scenario. The Bulldogs make 32 field goals a contest and shoot 51.6% from the field. Those numbers project upwards into the 52-55% range for this matchup. Could McNeese State keep up for a while? That is also possible.
Again, we looked at this from a common sense standpoint. The Over/Under remains set around 150 points (currently 150.5). Like we mentioned above, the thought process is going up to 154.5 or 159.5 is very possible. Keep an eye on all the alternate numbers that may pop up before Thursday evening. For now, going with the over of 150.5 is our best bet here.
Cowboys vs Bulldogs Bets Laying Six Points?
So, what about Cowboys vs Bulldogs bets laying six points? The McNeese State Cowboys have not played much of anyone with a positive Strength of Schedule (SOS). They rank among the 30 weakest schedules faced in the entire nation. Now, this is out of 362 schools! Gonzaga, at least, ranks close to the Top 100 here. They have played some ranked teams and are experienced with the tournament atmosphere. The Cowboys last appeared in the tournament in 2002.
The Bulldogs should eventually show that their bite is at least equal to their bark. One of two things is likely to happen. Gonzaga blows the doors off early and coasts or the Bulldogs pull away in the second half with a strong attack. Either way, this number of six points feels way too low here. It is like Oregon or Washington State being underdogs. Something feels not quite right. Anyway, the belief is Gonzaga can easily win by double digits on Thursday night.
Also, there are ways to bet the halves and that comes at only three points currently. The feeling is that may climb between now and Thursday evening too. In the meantime, we suggest taking the money and running with Gonzaga.
What About A Player Prop For The Road?
Finally, Cowboys vs Bulldogs bets ask what about a player prop for the road? This game sees potential for several players topping 20+ points. However, no one is listed above 16.5 yet. That may not change either. Find alternate totals whenever possible. In the meantime, Graham Ike is a great wager along with Shahada Wells. Even Ryan Nembhard at seven or more assists rolls in at -115. These are three bets that can make a few dollars. Take Ike and the points first and foremost.
March Madness Betting Futures
Please take a look at the March Madness Betting Futures while you can. Expect these to change as the teams get eliminated. Good luck!
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