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The third-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs are hoping to win their first national championship as they look to reach the Final Four when they take on the fourth-seeded UConn Huskies in an Elite Eight matchup in the 2023 NCAA Tournament on Saturday. The Bulldogs (31-5, 14-2 West Coast), who defeated UCLA 79-76 on Thursday, last reached the Final Four in 2021. The Huskies (28-8, 13-7 Big East), who beat Arkansas 88-65 on Thursday, last reached the Final Four in 2014, the last time they won the NCAA title. Both teams have been on a roll. UConn has won nine of 10, while Gonzaga has won 12 straight and 15 of 16.

The game from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will tip off at 8:50 p.m. ET. UConn is connecting on 46% of its field goal attempts per game, while Gonzaga connects on 52.9%. The Huskies are 3-point favorites in the latest UConn vs. Gonzaga odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 153.5. Before locking in any Gonzaga vs. UConn picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters the Sweet 16 round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament 83-54 on all-top rated college basketball picks this season, returning more than $1,500 for $100 players. It also went 4-1 on top-rated picks during the first week of March Madness. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns. 

Now, the model has set its sights on Gonzaga vs. UConn and revealed its coveted picks and predictions for the NCAA Tournament 2023. You can head to SportsLine to see the picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for UConn vs. Gonzaga:

  • UConn vs. Gonzaga spread: UConn -3
  • UConn vs. Gonzaga over/under: 153.5 points
  • UConn vs. Gonzaga money line: UConn -165, Gonzaga +140
  • UCONN: The Huskies are 8-1 against the spread in their last nine games overall
  • GON: The over is 10-3 in the Bulldogs' last 13 games overall
  • UConn vs. Gonzaga picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why Gonzaga can cover

Senior forward Drew Timme was on fire in Thursday's 79-76 win over UCLA. He helped Gonzaga overcome a 13-point deficit to advance to the Elite Eight by scoring 36 points, grabbing four rebounds and dishing out four assists. He has been on a roll, scoring 28 points in Sunday's 84-81 second-round win over TCU. He has recorded nine double-doubles on the year. In 36 starts, Timme averages 21.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

Junior guard Julian Strawther recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the win over UCLA. He has scored 10 or more points in 10 straight games, including three 28-point efforts. In the NCAA Tournament first-round win over Grand Canyon, Strawther poured in 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. He is averaging 15.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 36 starts.

Why UConn can cover 

Senior guard Tristen Newton is averaging 9.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 28.5 minutes per game. In 36 games, including 35 starts, the East Carolina transfer is coming off a six-point, six-rebound and seven-assist performance against Arkansas on Thursday. He had 13 points and five assists in the second-round win over Saint Mary's. Newton has been solid from 3-point range, connecting on 36.9% of his shots from beyond the arc, and is hitting on 81% of his free-throw attempts.

Freshman forward Alex Karaban was red-hot in the win over the Razorbacks on Thursday, connecting on all of his field goals and free throws, scoring 11 points, while grabbing seven rebounds. In 36 games, including 35 starts, he is averaging 9.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 29 minutes. He is connecting on 47.2% of his field goals, including 40.9% from 3-point range, and 83.3% of his free throws. Karaban has reached double-digit scoring in 19 games, including a season-high 19 points in a 114-61 win over Long Island University on Dec. 10.

How to make Gonzaga vs. UConn picks

The model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 157 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.

So who wins UConn vs. Gonzaga? And which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks, and find out.