Gonzaga no longer fools around in its Big Dance openers, winning the past three years by 21, 43 and 38 points. The nation's most prolific offense has gone through the roof lately, with a 92.3-point average over the past nine games. Grand Canyon leans on three-point shooting, which comes easier in the regular season than in a strange gym amid NCAA Tournament pressure. The Antelopes tied for fourth in the WAC, hardly a placement that would suggest they could slug it out with the Zags.

Grand Canyon has only beaten one team inside the top 100 (Sam Houston State), and I think the Lopes will be overwhelmed by Gonzaga's offensive efficiency. The Zags lead the nation in shooting 52.9 percent and don't have to rely solely on Drew Timme. Lay the points.

Grand Canyon went 24-8 to the Over this season, the highest such rate in the nation. The Antelopes will be playing a Zags team that loves to run and averaged an 87-72 score this season. The Zags have gone Over in eight of their last 10 games and are shooting 55% across their last five games. GCU has gone Over in its last four. The backdrop is set for a fast-paced affair that his the Over.

SportslineAI has this Line at -17.7. This will be a game of matchups, GCU plays a small ball lineup with no one taller than 6’7”. If I am Gonzaga I feed the ball to 6'10" Drew Timme who averages 20.9 on 62.4% shooting and 6'8" Anton Watson who averages 11.3 on 61.4% shooting.

Outside of their three games against St. Mary's, teams have been unable to slow Gonzaga over the last month. In 9 of their last 10 games not against the Gaels, the Bulldogs' totals have been over this number. The lowest amount of points they have scored in those 10 games is 82, and they have given up 70 or more in seven of those 10. Check out Early Edge in 5 on YouTube at 4 p.m. ET on Friday to hear more of my rationale...