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Gonzaga Bulldogs vs Pepperdine Waves Picks and Predictions – Sunday December 28, 2025
Gonzaga opens West Coast Conference play Sunday night in Malibu, and the story is pretty simple: the Zags have been smashing teams, Pepperdine is trying to stay afloat, and the number is massive for a reason. Tip is set for 5:00 PM PT at Firestone Fieldhouse, and Gonzaga walks in at 12-1 with the kind of nonconference resume that’s included multiple 25-plus point wins.
Pepperdine is 5-8, but it’s not like the Waves are totally broken. They’ve had stretches where the offense looks clean, especially when the ball is moving and they’re getting confident threes early. Still, this is a brutal matchup to open league play because Gonzaga’s depth and pace tend to turn “hanging around” into “down 18” in about four minutes.
The market is treating this like a Gonzaga blowout, with a spread that’s basically asking one question: can Pepperdine survive Gonzaga’s first big run and avoid the second one.
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs Pepperdine Waves Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated latest college basketball odds as numbers can move quickly around WCC openers.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga Bulldogs | -10000 | -30.5 (-110) | O 152.5 (-110) |
| Pepperdine Waves | +3300 | +30.5 (-110) | U 152.5 (-110) |
Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Form
Gonzaga has been playing like a team that’s comfortable putting opponents away early. The shot quality is steady, they get to the rim, and the half-court offense has enough counters that even decent defensive possessions can end in a clean look late. When Gonzaga is right, they force you to guard for the full clock, then punish you on the glass or in transition right after.
The other part that matters for betting is the rotation. Gonzaga can keep its foot on the gas with the second unit, and that’s why these big spreads are always tricky. If Pepperdine has a bad four-minute stretch against the bench, you can lose the cover before the underdog even settles in. If you want to track form and recent results, the best spot is the Gonzaga Bulldogs stats and results page, because the game-to-game scoring pattern tells you how fast they’re getting separation.
Pepperdine Waves Betting Form
Pepperdine’s path in games like this usually starts with shot-making, and lately they’ve shown they can get hot from three when the ball is popping side to side. The issue is what happens on the other end. When Pepperdine isn’t getting stops or finishing possessions with rebounds, the opponent’s volume becomes overwhelming, and the Waves end up trading threes for layups. That’s not sustainable.
From a betting angle, Pepperdine is more interesting as a spread team when they can control tempo and avoid live-ball turnovers. If the guards get sped up, it’s a problem because Gonzaga turns those mistakes into quick points. The Waves also need to be able to score without living at the line, because the whistle can be unpredictable in early conference games and you don’t want your entire offense tied to foul calls. You can follow their recent game flow and splits on the Pepperdine Waves schedule and stats page.
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs Pepperdine Waves Matchup Breakdown
The tempo battle is the first thing I’m watching. Pepperdine would love a game that feels like long, half-court possessions with selective threes and fewer transition chances. Gonzaga typically doesn’t cooperate. Even off makes, the Zags push into early offense, and that creates a ton of “semi-transition” opportunities where the defense isn’t set but it’s not a pure fast break either. That’s where big favorites bury teams.
Shot profile is the second key. Pepperdine can compete in short bursts if the threes are falling, but Gonzaga tends to win the math with rim attempts and free throws, plus extra possessions off offensive rebounds. If Pepperdine’s bigs can’t hold position and finish rebounds, the spread becomes less about overall scoring and more about Gonzaga’s second-chance points piling up.
Turnovers are the swing lever that can make this uncomfortable for an underdog ticket. Pepperdine has to value the ball. Gonzaga doesn’t need to gamble to create chaos, they just pressure you with depth, size, and pace. If the Waves get loose with the handle, this game can get out of hand fast.
If you’re still building your process for games with extreme spreads and high totals, it’s worth tightening up your approach with a broader sports betting strategy guide so you’re not guessing on when to lay big numbers versus when to pass.
Gonzaga Bulldogs vs Pepperdine Waves Predictions and Best Bets
My first reaction is that Gonzaga is the better team by a mile, but the number is so inflated that you’re not betting “who’s better,” you’re betting game script. And Pepperdine has one realistic script that keeps them inside this: slow it down, make threes, and avoid the turnover avalanche. The problem is Gonzaga’s depth usually breaks that script even when the underdog executes for a half. It’s not always dramatic, it’s more like Pepperdine plays a solid 12 minutes and still finds itself down 10 because Gonzaga’s possessions are so efficient.
I lean Gonzaga on the full-game spread, mostly because Pepperdine’s defense doesn’t profile as the type that can consistently get “one-and-done” stops against Gonzaga’s size. The Zags don’t need to shoot 45% from three to cover. They can cover with paint touches, rebounding, and free throws, and that’s the kind of cover I trust more.
The total is interesting. Blowouts can kill overs if the favorite starts bleeding clock late, but Gonzaga games often stay efficient deep into the second half because the bench keeps scoring. Pepperdine also contributes to the over if they’re chasing and taking early threes. I’m slightly to the over, but I’m not as confident there as I am on the side.
Projected score: Gonzaga 92, Pepperdine 60.
Best Bet: Gonzaga -30.5 (-110).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re betting college hoops daily, the biggest edge is consistency. It’s hard to grind edges across hundreds of games without a structure, and that’s where leaning on today’s college basketball picks helps. You’re not forced to tail anything, but you can compare opinions, timing, and price sensitivity across multiple handicappers instead of betting in a vacuum.
I also like using the top sports handicappers list alongside the handicapper leaderboard to see who’s actually producing and how they’re doing it. Some guys win on volume, some are selective, and you can match that style to how you bet.
For bettors who want a more curated approach, there’s also the option to look at buy expert picks for deeper card-building. And if you’re still deciding which platforms and services you trust, the sportsbook reviews and the handicappers sites reviews pages are useful for sorting through the noise. If you want more matchup writeups across the slate, keep the college basketball previews hub handy, and the broader college basketball teams hub is an easy way to bounce between rosters and recent form. If you like more angle-based reads, the ScoresAndStats blog can be a good add-on during conference season.
