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Santa Clara (26-7) vs Gonzaga (29-3)
- When: Mar 10 2026, 9:00 PM
- Where: Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, NV, USA
- Where to watch: ESPN
Santa Clara vs (12) Gonzaga Preview & Prediction
Spread: Gonzaga -7.5
Moneyline: Gonzaga (-313)
Total: 159.5
Santa Clara Broncos Betting Breakdown
A Bit of History Calling
Ah now, Santa Clara strolls into this title game carrying the sort of hope that hasn’t been seen around the program since Steve Nash had hair and college defenses had nightmares. The Broncos sit at 26 and 7 and are knocking loudly on the door of their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1996.
Their semifinal victory over Saint Mary’s was no small feat either. Santa Clara pulled off a 76 to 71 win behind a confident performance from Sash Gavalyugov, who dropped 23 points and buried a cold blooded three late to seal the game. That sort of composure tends to make gamblers perk up like a greyhound spotting a rabbit.
Coach Herb Sendek, now sitting on 600 career wins, refuses to entertain bracket talk. His message is simple. Win the game and the dancing takes care of itself.
The Broncos will need another strong outing from Elijah Mahi if they want to keep pace with Gonzaga’s relentless scoring attack. Santa Clara has already lost both regular season meetings with the Bulldogs, which makes this championship clash both revenge opportunity and survival test.
Santa Clara Player Prop Pick: Elijah Mahi Over 14.5 Points – Mahi thrives in high pressure games and should see increased scoring opportunities against Gonzaga’s aggressive defensive approach.
Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Breakdown
The Usual Las Vegas Problem
Then there is Gonzaga, the program that treats the WCC Tournament like its personal backyard barbecue. The Bulldogs arrive at 29 and 3 and have won this event an outrageous 21 times in the last 27 seasons.
Their semifinal victory over Oregon State was not exactly pretty, but the Bulldogs still handled business with a 65 to 56 win. The man leading the charge again was Graham Ike, the WCC Player of the Year, who posted 24 points and 11 rebounds like he was filling out a grocery list.
Ike has absolutely terrorized Santa Clara this season. In the two regular season meetings he averaged a monstrous 27.5 points and 13 rebounds. That’s less basketball matchup and more “please someone double this guy immediately.”
Coach Mark Few insists there is no sentimental value attached to Gonzaga’s final WCC tournament before heading to the Pac 12. But if you’ve watched this team long enough, you know they would very much enjoy leaving the conference with another trophy in hand.
Gonzaga Player Prop Pick: Graham Ike Over 21.5 Points – Ike averaged 27.5 points against Santa Clara this season and remains Gonzaga’s dominant interior scoring option.
Expert Picks & Final Score Prediction
MyBookie oddsmakers have Gonzaga favored by 7.5 with the total sitting at a lofty 159.5. That number suggests offense, and both teams certainly have it.
Santa Clara will fight, scrap, and likely make Gonzaga uncomfortable for long stretches. But when the dust settles, the Bulldogs’ experience and Ike’s dominance inside should carry the day.
Final Score: Gonzaga 88, Santa Clara 79
Lean: Gonzaga -7.5
Total: Over 159.5
- NCAAB Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
