The Grand Canyon Antelopes take on the Georgia Bulldogs in Atlanta, GA. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
Georgia is favored by 6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -275. The total is set at 148.5 points.
Here are my Grand Canyon vs. Georgia predictions and college basketball picks for December 14, 2024.
Grand Canyon vs Georgia Prediction
My Pick: Grand Canyon +6.5
My Grand Canyon vs Georgia best bet is on Grand Canyon +6.5, with the best odds currently available at ESPNBet. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Grand Canyon vs Georgia Odds
| Grand Canyon Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -115 | 148.5 -110o / -110u | +225 |
| Georgia Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -105 | 148.5 -110o / -110u | -275 |
- Grand Canyon vs Georgia spread: Georgia -6.5
- Grand Canyon vs Georgia over/under: 148.5 points
- Grand Canyon vs Georgia moneyline: Georgia -275, Grand Canyon +225
- Grand Canyon vs Georgia best bet: Grand Canyon +6.5
Spread
This spread is too high for me, both from a numerical rating and a matchup perspective. GCU is my bet.
Moneyline
There is likely some value in the GCU moneyline at this price, but I am primarily a straight bettor on sides and totals, so I'm leaving this alone.
Over/Under
The total is right about where I think it should be. If anything, I'd be on the over, but I'll stick with one wager on this game.
My Pick: Grand Canyon +6.5
Grand Canyon vs Georgia College Basketball Betting Preview
Grand Canyon Basketball
Grand Canyon’s second-half demolition of Saint Mary’s in the 2024 NCAA Tournament finally unveiled how impressive Bryce Drew’s build has been in Phoenix. The Antelopes brought back four starters from that loaded group, and though this year has gotten off to a choppy start, GCU can still hope to build an at-large worth resume with a win over Georgia atop the ledger.
Defense was the Lopes’ calling card last season. A long, physical perimeter group pressured foes into turnovers, and if the opposition did manage to crack that shell, GCU had size at the rim. Theoretically, this year’s defense should be that same kind of fierce unit, but GCU has been uneven for several reasons.
The simpler reason is bad luck. Opponents are making way more jump shots than last year. Foes are hitting 35.3% of their triples and 77.1% of their free throws; in 2023-24, those numbers were 32.1% and 70.6%. More concerningly, though, the GCU rim resistance has softened.
JaKobe Coles has been a dazzling scorer — more on him shortly — but he is a downgrade from Gabe McGlothan on the defensive end. More importantly, 6-foot-10 center Duke Brennan missed GCU’s first four games. The Antelopes went 2-2 in those games with a bad loss to UC Davis. Since his return, they are 4-0 with a neutral court win over Stanford. He is not a true rim protector, but his size and rebounding are vital ingredients.
Brennan’s work on the glass has also aided the offense. A shaky shooting start for star wing Tyon Grant-Foster – just 36.3% from the field, 23.1% from deep – has been a major hindrance. Fortunately, Coles has been an efficiency monster, and veteran guard Ray Harrison has maintained his solid productivity. All three players have an assist rate of around 20%, demonstrating the decentralized playmaking present in Drew’s offense. That makes GCU hard to defend.
Georgia Basketball
Georgia fans may be locked into the College Football Playoff (they are — I know several), but once they flip the page to hoops, they may be surprised at what they find. The Bulldogs’ season began with some optimism, but an 8-1 start and top 40 KenPom ranking have set the table for a memorable season. This Georgia team could be the school’s best since 2003, and that team didn’t even get to play in the postseason due to off-court transgressions.
A dynamite freshman fuels an outstanding squad: forward Asa Newell. The versatile 6-11 southpaw dominates the game in multiple ways, protecting the rim and gobbling up offensive rebounds. He’s a deft finisher inside, and if his still-dormant shooting stroke ever emerges, he’ll be unstoppable.
The Bulldogs’ frontcourt is not just a one-man show, though. Fellow freshman Somto Cyril and Clemson transfer RJ Godfrey provide brutish bulk, with Godfrey carving out space and Cyril being a raw but exciting bouncy shot-blocker. The Dawgs have depth, too: Dylan James and Justin Abson could start on a ton of other frontlines.
That wealth of big-man talent has enabled Georgia to dominate in all the areas you’d expect. The Bulldogs rank fifth nationally in offensive rebound rate, 28th in free throw rate, and 12th in 2-point shooting. They can simply bludgeon you into submission at the bucket.
Mike White and his staff cleverly navigated the portal to assemble a standout backcourt. Sophomores Silas Demary and Blue Cain had obvious talent but were young. White brought in Tyrin Lawrence (Vanderbilt) and Dakota Leffew (Mount St. Mary’s), two fifth-year guards that have proven to be perfect fits as ball-handlers and shooters next to Demary and Cain. The Dawgs’ guard group perfectly blends young talent and grizzled experience.
Grand Canyon vs. Georgia Betting Analysis
These two teams have gone in vastly different directions to start the season. Grand Canyon has limped out of the gate amid sky-high expectations, dampening the Antelopes’ value in the market in the process. Meanwhile, Georgia has shot up analytical rankings with impressive performances, vaulting into the top 40 at KenPom and Bart Torvik.
To me, those trajectories have diverted too severely. This is a semi-home game for Georgia in Atlanta, but this spread is too big. Grand Canyon has the athletes to play up against power competition; over half the rotation began its career in power conferences. GCU’s recent uptick coincided with Brennan’s return; the big man will be vital against Georgia’s army of physical forwards.
Grant-Foster’s efficiency will be a key factor. If he continues to brick most of his jumpers at high usage, GCU could have too many scoring droughts here. He’s too talented to remain this cold, though, and I think a huge showdown with an SEC foe brings out the best in him. He will be a difficult matchup for Georgia: he’ll face smaller, thinner guards or slower big forwards.
Adding it all together, I will be backing underdog Grand Canyon in this matchup. I only make Georgia a 1.5-point favorite, so anything +3.5 or better is acceptable in my book.
