Michigan vs Gonzaga Picks, Predictions, Odds & Lines for Players Era Title Game

• The #7 Michigan Wolverines and #12 Gonzaga Bulldogs put perfect records on the line in the Players Era Championship final
• Gonzaga’s fourth-rated offense runs headfirst into Michigan’s first-rated defense
• Check out my Michigan vs Gonzaga picks, predictions, and best bets, plus the latest odds and money splits

Undefeated powerhouses collide in the Players Era Championship final as the #7 Michigan Wolverines (6-0, 3-3 ATS, 3-3 O/U) and #12 Gonzaga Bulldogs (7-0, 6-1 ATS, 3-4 O/U) battle for tournament supremacy at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (6:30 pm PT/9:30 pm ET). Both teams dominated their first two games of the tourney: Michigan beat down 45-rated San Diego State (94-54) and 34th-rated Auburn (102-72), while Gonzaga took care of 18th-rated Alabama (95-85) and 81st-rated Maryland (100-61).

From a betting perspective, this championship final presents a fascinating matchup between contrasting styles. The Wolverines’ elite interior defense anchored by 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara has them positioned as the top D in the country in terms of efficiency. Gonzaga counters with the fourth-rated offensive attack led by the dynamic frontcourt tandem of Graham Ike and Braden Huff, who have torched opponents throughout their unbeaten start.

This betting preview analyzes the UM vs GONZ odds and player props, and identifies the the best Michigan vs Gonzaga picks and props to bet.

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Michigan vs Gonzaga Predictions: Expert Picks & Best Bets

ATS Best Bet: Michigan +2.5 (-110) at Caesars

The championship final projects as a possession-by-possession war between two elite programs. Michigan’s championship path has been built on suffocating interior defense and balanced scoring. The Wolverines possess the tournament’s most disruptive defensive presence in Aday Mara, whose 2.83 blocks per game create matchup nightmares for Gonzaga’s paint-heavy attack.

Offensively, Yaxel Lendeborg has been unstoppable, averaging 15.3 points on an astronomical 84.0% shooting from two-point range. This interior excellence on both ends gives Michigan the tools to neutralize Gonzaga’s primary weapons.

The Bulldogs counter with their own interior dominance through Graham Ike (17.0 points, 9.0 rebounds) and the hyper-efficient Braden Huff (16.0 points on 67.5% field goal percentage). However, they haven’t faced a defensive anchor of Mara’s caliber this season.

Michigan’s superior strength of schedule (0.625 vs 0.5707) has them better suited to face championship-level competition.

Game-Total Pick: Over 163.5 (-110) at BetMGM

The championship total has climbed from its opening number, signaling market expectation for offensive fireworks between two of the nation’s most potent scoring units. Both programs feature remarkable offensive depth – Gonzaga boasts five players averaging over 9.0 points while Michigan counters with six. This scoring balance creates multiple avenues for points throughout the rotation.

Efficiency metrics support the over case, with Gonzaga’s Braden Huff posting a 0.673 True Shooting Percentage and Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg at an elite 0.739 mark. These numbers indicate both teams can score efficiently without requiring high shot volumes. The championship setting and neutral court typically produce faster pace and higher possessions, further supporting the scoring explosion.

Gonzaga vs Michigan Player Props

Graham Ike, who’s shooting up the the Wooden Award odds thanks to his early-season dominance, leads both the point totals (17.5 O/U) and rebound totals (8.5) and is a slight -125 favorite to hit the over on both fronts.

Yaxel Lendeborg has the highest point and rebound totals on the Michigan side at 16.5 and 7.5, respectively, though he’s slightly favored to stay under in both categories.

Michigan vs Gonzaga Odds & Lines

The Zags enter the title game as slight -135 favorites on the moneyline (Caesars), which has been bet up from an opening number of -120. The Wolverines come back as +122 underdogs (FanDuel). Gonzaga is a 2.5-point favorite against the spread, up from 1.5 in the opening line last night. ESPN Bet has the best ATS price on Gonzaga -2.5 (even money) while Caesars has the best price on Michigan +2.5 (-110).

The total ranges from 163.5 to 164.5. Over bettors should head to BetMGM where they can get over 163.5 at -110. Under bettors can get under 164.5 (-113) at Bet Rivers.

Odds commentary as of 3:05 pm ET. Bookmark SBD’s college basketball odds page to see the latest lines for every game all season.

Michigan vs Gonzaga Matchup Analysis

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