Feast Week continues with a loaded Wednesday of college basketball to wager on. Gonzaga and Michigan square off on Wednesday evening in Las Vegas in the title game of the Players Era Tournament. The winner will take home $1,000,000 in NIL money, with the loser still cashing for $500,000. Let’s breakdown a prediction and pick for the game between the Bulldogs and Wolverines.
Gonzaga vs. Michigan prediction, preview (9:30pm ET)
Gonzaga and Michigan don’t just have 2-0 records so far in Las Vegas, they’ve been steamrolling teams. Other 2-0 schools did not qualify for the title game, and the Zags and Wolverines are here thanks to point differential. After a terrific 95-85 win over Alabama on Monday, Gonzaga dropped 100 on Maryland in a 39-point victory to advantage to face Michigan.
Meanwhile, the Wolverines have barely broken a sweat in Vegas. They’ve defeated San Diego State by a score of 94-54, and followed it up with a 102-72 win over Auburn. Those aren’t even fast paced teams that Michigan has been facing, and yet its still averaging 98 points in two games in Vegas. The Zags are right there with them, averaging 97.5 points.
Both Michigan and Gonzaga are quality defensive teams, ranking Top-5 in defensive rating on KenPom. But these offenses are playing at a different level right now, and are not something I want to step in front of. I think we continue to see a rapid pace from both teams, and some high-level shot making with a ton of money on the line. This should be a terrific game to watch, but rather than play on a winner, I’ll simply back a barn burner in Vegas.
