2024 NCAA Tournament: Latest betting odds for Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. McNeese State Cowboys

Bulldogs are 7.5-point favorites over the Cowboys in first round matchup

The Gonzaga Bulldogs will look to avoid an upset from the 12-seed McNeese State Cowboys in their 2024 NCAA Tournament first-round matchup in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Zags (25-7, 14-2 WCC) are appearing in their 25th-straight NCAA Tournament, the third-longest active streak behind Kansas (34) and Michigan State (26). Mark Few has won 14 consecutive first-round games and has advanced to the Sweet 16 in eight straight postseasons. No team has won more NCAA Tournament games since 2017 (20).

Gonzaga has won nine of its last 10 games with its only loss coming to Saint Mary's in the West Coast Conference Tournament championship game. Since Feb. 4, it has ranked No. 1 in the country in effective field goal percentage in the country, No. 3 in offensive efficiency and No. 4 in 2-point field goal percentage. The Bulldogs have the sixth-lowest turnover in the nation over their last 10 games as well.

The Cowboys (30-3 17-1 Southland) ride an 11-game winning streak into the first round, the third-longest streak in the country, and will appear in the program's first NCAA Tournament since 2002. In Will Wade's first season as head coach, McNeese State set a program record for total wins and tied its own best for conference wins in a season. Only UConn, Houston and James Madison have 30 or more wins heading into the postseason.

Gonzaga men's basketball coaching tree well represented in 2024 NCAA Tournament

McNeese State boasts the best scoring margin (18.9) in the country and is eighth in 3-point field goal percentage (38.8%). Per hoop-math.com, it attempts the 10th-most shots at the rim in college basketball. The Cowboys are also third in field goal percentage defense (38.5%), steals (10.4) and turnover margin (6.7).

Wade's team only played two top-100 NET teams all season and just one Quad 1 game (VCU in the season opener). The Southland Conference ranks 28th out of 33 Division-I conferences per KenPom. The Cowboys beat just one team that made the NCAA Tournament (UAB).

According to Fox Sports, Gonzaga is 17-10 ATS when playing as a 5-seed or worse in the NCAA Tournament. Double-digit seeds have covered 49.7% of the time in the Round of 64 since 1985, while underdogs have covered 50.9% of the time all-time in the first round. A 12-seed has won 53 first-round games since the field expanded in 1985.

This season, Gonzaga is 14-15 against the spread and 3-4 ATS on neutral site floors. McNeese State is 15-11-1 ATS and has covered in four of its five games as underdogs.

Gonzaga vs. McNeese State Betting Odds

Check out the latest betting odds for this matchup per SI Sportsbook.

Money Line: Gonzaga (-333)
Spread: Gonzaga -7.5 (-105)
Over/Under: 149.5 (-118)

Adam Morrison: Gonzaga 'shouldn't get into a track meet' with McNeese State in 2024 NCAA Tournament