Florida State Seminoles vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Odds

Opening Line: Gonzaga +1 / FSU -1 O/U 132

Time: 7:10 PM EST Friday March 19, 2010 on CBS

Tonight in a 1st round match up in the West Region the 8th seed Gonzaga Bulldogs face the 9th seed Florida State Seminoles. This is the first ever meetings between these 2 schools and winner has a real shot to get to the Sweet 16, as the winner will likely play top-seed Syracuse, who has one of their main players out with an injury.

Gonzaga won the Western Coast Conference this season, but lost to St. Mary's in the conference tourney final 11 days ago. FSU came in a tie for 2nd in the ACC conference and they cost themselves a better seed in the Big Dance by being upset by North Carolina State in the quarterfinals of their conference tourney.

This season Gonzaga is 15-12-1 ATS and FSU is 8-18 ATS.

Gonzaga is from a small conference, but they have made the NCAA tournament 12 straight years and this season won the Maui Invitational and played such national powerhouses as Duke, Michigan State, Wake Forrest, and Cincinnati.

This is a match up of contrasting teams, as Gonzaga wins with offense and FSU wins with defense.

The Bulldogs have a well-balanced team with 2 guards, a forward, and a center averaging in double figures led by G Matt Bouldin (15.8 ppg). The Zags have a solid offense that likes to get out and run and is averaging 77.6 ppg this season.

Gonzaga has to figure out how to score on a FSU defense ranks 1st in the nation in limiting opponents to a FG% of 40.4% and that has not allowed any opponent this season to shoot over 50% from the field.

FSU wins with their D, but they also have a well-balanced offense with a forward, center, and guard averaging in double figures led by C Solomon Alabi (11.6 ppg). Alabi (6.2 rpg) and F Chris Singleton (10.3 ppg 7.1 rpg) are the anchors of the Seminoles' defense and if these guys can control the glass FSU will be in good shape.

If Gonzaga can hit their outside J's and rebound well the will win and if FSU can defend the perimeter and win the battle of the boards they will win.

Betting Trends

FSU is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games, 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite, and has an Under record or 4-0 in their last 4 games.

Gonzaga is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games, 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games against teams with a winning record, and has an Under record of 4-1-1 in their last 6 games.