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No. 8 Baylor travels to face No. 6 Gonzaga on opening night of the college basketball tournament at Spokane Arena in Spokane, Wash., in one of the biggest non-conference matchups of the 2024-25 season. The preseason heavyweight clash between the top 10 programs is the main event of an exciting opening day across the sport after last season did not feature a single matchup between the rankings on opening night.
Gonzaga and Baylor agreed to this matchup in September. This game will be a rematch of the 2021 national championship game won by Scott Drew and Baylor to give the program its first national championship. Gonzaga entered that game 31-0 before losing 86-70 in the final game of the 2020-21 season.
The Bears will look different this season with the additions of former Duke guard Jeremy Roach and Miami big man Norchad Omer — two of the best transfers available. Baylor also added five-star guard VJ Edgecombe, who is rated the No. 5 overall player in the 2024 recruiting cycle by 247Sports and is a top-five prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft.
As for Gonzaga, Mark Few and Co. return the majority of the starting lineup that reached the Sweet 16 last season. This list includes Ryan Nembhard, Graham Icke and Ben Gregg. The Bulldogs added former Arkansas guard Khalif Battle and Pepperdine forward Michael Ajayi to bolster the roster.
How to watch Gonzaga vs. Baylor live
Date: Monday, November 4 | Time: 11:30 PM ET
Location: Spokane Arena – Spokane, Washington
TV: ESPN 2 | Live Streaming: fuboTV (Try Free)
Gonzaga vs. Baylor predictions, picks
College basketball betting odds via BetMGM Sportsbook. Use the BetMGM promotion to enter the game.
This will be an actual home game for Gonzaga due to the Zags’ proximity to Spokane Arena. campus. The biggest factor in this game will be Edgecombe, who has shown flashes of what he can be at this level while playing for the Bahamas national team. This game is a legitimate toss-up game because of how good both sides are. Baylor wins a close game if it can overcome the Bulldogs’ home court advantage. Prediction: Baylor +3.5
