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Gonzaga vs UCLA: 2021 Final Four game preview, TV schedule, prediction and odds

By Tristan Freeman

Mar 30, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Johnny Juzang (3) celebrates after defeating the Michigan Wolverines in the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Johnny Juzang (3) celebrates after defeating the Michigan Wolverines in the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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It’s a battle of west coast programs in Gonzaga and UCLA for a spot in the national championship game. Can the Bruins pull off the massive upset?

TV schedule: Saturday, April 3rd, 8:34 pm ET. CBS

Arena: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana

Line (via Oddshark): Gonzaga (-13.5)

This matchup between Gonzaga and UCLA has a bunch of historic storylines involved. For the Bulldogs, they’re looking to become the first unbeaten team to win the national championship since the Indiana Hoosiers in 1976, while the Bruins are trying to be the first team to go from the “First Four” to the national title game.

It’s been an amazing run for UCLA, which has used up almost all nine of its cat lives. They nearly missed the NCAA Tournament altogether with a four-game losing streak, and had to go into overtime just to beat Michigan State in the “First Four”. They then had to go into OT against Alabama in the Sweet and scored just 51 points against Michigan in the Elite 8.

Yet somehow, the Wolverines survived and pulled off the major upset over the No. 1 seed. Johnny Juzang had 28 points to lead all scorers, while Tyger Campbell had 11. The 11 seed Bruins are now in the Final Four and have another No. 1 seed to face… but this one is an even tougher opponent in the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs have had an easy road to the Final Four from the West Region. There was a thought that the USC Trojans and their elite interior and two-point defense would cause problems. But just a few minutes in, Drew Timme and Gonzaga proved to be way too much for them.

It was a near 20-point lead for the Bulldogs in the first half, who coasted towards an 85-66 win. Timme led all scorers with 23 points, while Corey Kispert and Jalen Suggs each had 18, with Suggs just two assists shy of a triple-double.

UCLA and head coach Mick Cronin has shown the ability to muck up games and turn them into a low-scoring affair. With Juzang the only player seemingly capable of going off, the Bruins are going to need this game to end up in the low-to-mid 70s. That’ll be tough, as the season-low for Gonzaga scoring this season has been 74, which was against one of the slowest paced teams in the country in Saint Mary’s.

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The betting spread is the largest ever for a Final Four game since the field expanded to 64 teams and there’s good reason. UCLA should be given major credit for this Final Four run and they’ll make things a bit interesting in the first half against the Bulldogs. But they’re not built to make it ugly for 40 minutes and Gonzaga is simply too good to be held down.

Prediction: Gonzaga 80, UCLA 64

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