UCLA has toggled the past month between the first and second most defensively efficient team in the nation. Gonzaga can score in bunches, but two early-season games against Power Six league foes are instructive: Both (against Michigan State and Baylor) ended 64-63. The Bulldogs’ first of three meetings with defensive-minded St. Mary’s ended 61-61 in regulation. The Bruins are capable of hanging in higher-scoring games. With Mick Cronin as their coach, though, it seems implausible that any up-temp opponent would dictate the pace.

This is rematch from the classic Final Four matchup two years ago, and both programs still have key players who were involved in that battle. But the roles have changed a bit, with UCLA front-running near the top 5 most of the season, while the Zags took a bit of a step back from their now-massive standards. But avoiding a No. 1 seed and the accompanying pressure is likely a good thing for Gonzaga, which appears to be peaking at the right time and showed resilience in its comeback against TCU. The Bruins are a bit banged up and the Bulldogs should take advantage and advance to the Elite Eight.

If UCLA didn't lose Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Jaylen Clark to a season-ending injury a few weeks ago, the Bruins would have been in my Final Four. They will badly miss Clark against (septuagenarian but still great) Drew Timme and the nation's best offense. Plus, Adem Bona (Pac-12 All-Defense) and David Singleton are questionable for UCLA. Maybe previous Gonzaga teams didn't win it all because of weak regular-season competition but the Zags played a monster non-conference slate this year. The Pac-12 has left much to be desired in this tournament. Note: 17 years ago today UCLA beat Gonzaga in the Adam Morrison crying game. He should have been crying way before that simply for sporting that Boogie Nights 'stache.

Gonzaga isn't drawing the attention it has in years past. The Bulldogs had a few losses in the West Coast Conference and don't have the same NBA-caliber talent. Yet, March Madness is all about draws, and Gonzaga gets another solid matchup against UCLA. Look for these under-the-radar Zags to take down a UCLA team favored by many to cut down the championship nets. Grab Gonzaga.

In terms of efficiency, Gonzaga is number one in offense and UCLA is number two in defense. This will be a clash of styles while the Bulldogs will want to play fast and the Bruins want a slow, grind it out game. There are some questions if UCLA’s Adem Bona and David Singleton will play, as they’re listed as questionable. Each player plays significant rolls on defensive and will be needed to contain Drew Timme inside and the other offensive weapons for Gonzaga on the perimeter. The Bruins are the better free three shooting team and are able to generate steals with their defense while also protecting the ball on offense. As always, I’m willing to back the better defensive team in March. I’m on UCLA.

Gonzaga comes in riding an 11-game win streak while leading the nation in points scored (87.3 ppg) and field-goal percentage (52.6%). But the Zags are not like previous squads because they don’t play defense with the same tenacity. They allowed 44% shooting to opponents, when usually allowing only 39%. UCLA permitted 40% in the regular season and 38% allowed in its last five. Back the better defensive team, Take UCLA to win and cover.

This is a matchup of good on good. The Bulldogs have the highest scoring offense in the country at 87.3 points per game and the Bruins have the sixth best scoring defense in the country allowing just 60.2 points per game. This is the game when the Jaylen Clark injury catches up with the Bruins. Without Clark defending the paint, Drew Timme should be able to have his way down low. Also, Bruins' David Singleton injured his ankle at the end of last game and he is questionable for last game. Take the Bulldogs to reach their fifth Elite Eight in the last eight tournaments.

I can't wait to watch this game! I've seen the Bruins twice in person this season, both against my Arizona Wildcats in losses, but UCLA's defense was incredible. They held one of the top-7 highest scoring teams in the country to 58 and 61 points in those contests and I'm fairly confident that they'll slow down the fast-tempo Bulldogs' offense. In Gonzaga's four losses this season, they've been held to 74, 66, 63, and 70 (in OT) points. UCLA has given up 75 or more points three times and is 0-3 in those games. If Gonzaga scores 75, I think they win. But I'll back the UCLA defense to hold them below that number and win the game outright. It doesn't help that the Bulldogs are 4-15 against the spread in away / neutral site games either.

Tyger Campbell is 2 of 16 from the field in the NCAA Tournament, yet his Bruins are in the Sweet 16 for the third straight time. That's how good UCLA is. With fellow senior and Pac-12 Player of the Year Jaime Jaquez Jr., sharpshooter David SIngleton (43.4 percent from deep), and star freshmen Adem Bona and Amari Bailey, defensive mastermind Mick Cronin has all the ingredients to slow down the Zags' scary offense and advance. Bona (and Kenneth Nwuba) can defend Drew Timme one-on-one, so UCLA won't leave 3-point shooters wide open. The Bruins are on a 14-1 SU tear, the loss coming by two in the Pac-12 title game when Bona didn't play.