The fifth-seed Gonzaga Bulldogs (26-7) and fourth-seed Kansas Jayhawks (23-10) take the court for battle in the Men’s Basketball Championship for the second round of the Midwest region on Saturday, March 23 at 3:15 PM ET. The Bulldogs are favored to win with a point spread at -4.5 (-110).

The Bulldogs come off an 86-65 blowout win over the McNeese Cowboys. This put them back on the winning side after a loss in the West Coast Conference Tournament Final against the Saint Mary’s Gaels.

Graham Ike has been a standout player this season, as he is averaging 16.5 points per game and making 61.1 percent of his field goals. He also makes 78.2 percent of his foul shots.

They are getting 84.9 points a game and rank seventh for this output in the nation. Their efficiency on the offensive end ranks third with a rating of 121.0. This bodes well for their chances with a strong offense.

On defense they are holding teams to 68.8 points a game and rank 85^th overall. Their efficiency on this end ranks 40^th, at 98.1. Compared to their offense, this is a healthy margin of victory.

The Jayhawks are coming off of a tough first round match against the 13^th-seed Samford Bulldogs, as the final score ended 93-89 in favor of the Jayhawks. Hunter Dickinson had an outstanding 20 rebounds to help keep them alive.

Kevin McCullar Jr leads the team in scoring with 18.3 points a game and will need a huge performance. As for Dickinson, he is averaging 18.0 points and 11.1 rebounds for each game and is a threat to the Zags.

They are compiling 75.8 points a game and rank 110^th for this outcome. Their rating on offense comes in at 107.9 and ranks 144^th. They will need to help set the tone early if their offense is struggling.

The Jayhawks are allowing 69.3 points per game and rank 98^th for the output. Their defensive rating is at 98.7 and ranks 53^rd, which shows how well they can adapt to the game. Looking at their offense to compare, they show a small margin of error in comparison to the Tar Heels.

MyBookie offers the odds for this matchup, with the Gonzaga Bulldogs having a 4.5-point spread. According to market insights, the Zags have a 58.2 percent chance of winning.

The Jayhawks have not been as consistent towards the end of the regular season, which shows they are vulnerable at this time. The Bulldogs are more appealing on both ends of the floor and they have the best momentum.