Zags Bettors Crushed by Half Court Heave
Bettors were backing Gonzaga on the -4.5 spread and they made it known Sunday night in a game against TCU.
Our own Thomas Somach tells us how it all went down.
"They (the Bulldogs) were up by four with the ball with 0.7 seconds left when TCU fouled them," Somach noted. Gonzaga made both free throws to go up by six, now covering the spread."
What happened next sent shivers up Somach's spine.
"There was a huge cheer from the crowd, much louder than from any other prior basket."
Somach's conclusion: "Obviously a lot of bettors in the crowd had Gonzaga."
But it was far from over.
"TCU then in bounded the ball and made a three point buzzer beater from half court so Gonzaga ended up winning by three and not covering.
"Avery (Johnson), the color commentator on the TV broadcast then says something to the effect that 'a lot of people are disappointed with how that ended but I’m not gonna touch that'."
The final score was 84-81.
Gonzaga has advanced to the Sweet 16 for the eighth consecutive time.
Drew Timme recorded 28 points and eight rebounds and No. 3 Gonzaga.
It was Timme who got his team up and pretty much out of reach of TCU in those final seconds with his first 3 since December — and only his third of the season.
“It was huge — the clock, the two-point lead,” Timme said of the margin before he made his shot. “I just launched one up there. All you can do is smile and laugh.”
Rasir Bolton added 17 points.
The Horned Frogs shot 44.8 percent from the field, including 9 of 25 from behind the arc. Mike Miles Jr. scored the most points for TUC, 24.
Gonzaga will next play UCLA in the Sweet 16 where they are listed as a rare underdog of +1.5. Since 2016, the Zags have only been an underdog on nine occasions. As an underdog since that time, Gonzaga is 3-6 Against The Spread.
Updated NCAA Men's Championship - 2023
Alabama 7-2 (+350)
Houston 4-1
UCLA 7-1
Texas 9-1
UConn 10-1
Gonzaga 10-1
Creighton 12-1
Tennessee 14-1
Kansas State 25-1
Michigan State 25-1
Xavier 25-1
Arkansas 33-1
San Diego State 40-1
Miami 40-1
Florida Atlantic 66-1
Princeton 150-1
Thursday, March 23
Michigan State -1
Kansas State +1
Over/Under 137.5
Arkansas +4
UConn -4
Over/Under 139.5
Florida Atlantic +5
Tennessee -5
Over/Under 132
Gonzaga PK
UCLA PK
Over/Under 139.5
Friday, March 24
San Diego State +7.5
Alabama -7.5
Over/Under 135.5
Miami +7
Houston +7
Over/Under 138.5
Princeton +10.5
Creighton -10.5
Over/Under 140
Xavier +4.5
Texas -4.5
Over/Under 147.5
- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
