Pacific vs. Gonzaga Picks and Predictions, Saturday, February 21st, 2026
Use Code WWWC The Pacific Tigers (17-12, 8-8 WCC) and the #11 Gonzaga Bulldogs (26-2, 14-1 WCC) tip off in a West Coast Conference showdown on Saturday night in this Pacific vs. Gonzaga prediction. This is their first matchup this season. Pacific is coming off an 87-70 loss on the road against Washington State as 2.5-point underdogs. Gonzaga is fresh off an 80-59 road win over San Francisco, covering as 15.5-point favorites. Tip is set for 9:00 EST. Keep reading to see our Pacific vs. Gonzaga prediction, and and check out all of our best NCAAB Betting Picks!
Tigers Remain Competitive
The Pacific Tigers currently sit in fourth in the West Coast Conference, but are 5.5-games behind the third place team. There is a clear divide, as Gonzaga, St. Mary's and Santa Clara are dominating the conference, while the other teams battle for positioning in the back. Pacific would need to get hot and win the WCC Tournament in order to make it to the Big Dance. In their last game, they were led by Elias Ralph with 16 points in their loss to Washington State.
Ralph is their top scorer this season as a 6'7 forward getting 16.6 PPG while adding another 6.8 RPG. This is his second season with Pacific, as he played in the lower divisions in his first two collegiate years. He can mix it up inside, but has also made 48 threes on the season. Their top outside shooter is TJ Wainwright, as he has 65 made threes on 39.9% shooting from beyond the arc. Wainwright is a 6'3 senior who played with Long Beach State last year, and is scoring 13.7 PPG. Isaac Jack is their big man, the 6'11 senior is contributing 9.3 PPG and 5.5 RPG.
Pacific is currently ranked 110th overall out of 365 Division I teams according to KenPom. They are 137th in offensive efficiency and 96th in defensive efficiency. They play at a very slow pace offensively, ranking 317th in tempo.
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Bulldogs Hold Small Lead
The Gonzaga Bulldogs have a one game lead over both Santa Clara and St. Mary's at the top of the WCC. They will play Portland after this game, then close the regular season with a big matchup against St. Mary's. Joe Lunardi projects that all three teams at the top will make it to the NCAA Tournament, with the Zags currently projected to be a 3-seed.
In their last game, Gonzaga rolled over San Francisco as they were led by Graham Ike with 22 points in the victory. Ike has been a force for the Bulldogs over the past three seasons, as the 6'9 and 250 pound senior has averaged over 16 points and seven rebounds in each of his three years. This season he is getting 19.9 PPG and 8.6 RPG while dominating the block. Braden Huff was another big scorer, but the 6'10 junior is out with a knee injury which will keep him sidelined until the postseason. This makes Tyon Grant-Foster their second leading scorer the 6'7 senior forward is getting 11.1 PPG in his first year with the Zags since coming over from Grand Canyon.
Gonzaga is currently ranked 9th overall according to KenPom. They are 22nd in offensive efficiency and 10th in defensive efficiency. They play much faster than Pacific, ranking 67th in the country in pace of play.
Key Injuries for Pacific vs. Gonzaga:
Pacific
- None listed
Gonzaga
- Out: Braden Huff (17.8 PPG)
Pacific vs. Gonzaga Picks and Predictions
Spread pick for Pacific vs. Gonzaga
- Gonzaga to cover (5 units)
Gonzaga is not going to take their foot off the gas in this one. The race at the top of the WCC is too tight, and with a big matchup ahead with St. Mary's, they cannot afford to come out of this game with a poor performance. Gonzaga is the faster team, but also has the distinct advantage inside, which is why they will be able to blow out their opponent. The Zags are 67th in tempo, but still find a way to let big man Graham Ike score 19.9 PPG while mostly operating out of the post. The worst unit in this game is Pacific's offense at 137th in the nation, while Gonzaga's defense is ranked 10th. Gonzaga will be too much to handle here.
Take Gonzaga to win and cover.
Over/Under Pick for Pacific vs. Gonzaga
- Under (4 units)
The biggest mismatch in this game is when Pacific has the ball, because they will be smothered by this big and athletic Gonzaga defense. As mentioned earlier, the worst unit in this game is Pacific's offense, while the best in Gonzaga's defense. The Zags will shut them down, but this will also be paired with Pacific's slow tempo which will keep this game as an under. Pacific does not want to get in a track meet here, they will want to slow the game down as much as possible in hopes of keeping it close.
Take the under.
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