Traditionally judges need to be confirmed by 60 senators to break a filibuster.  If the democrats have 41+ senators that really oppose Gorsuch they could kill his nomination with a filibuster and there is nothing republicans could do under traditional senate rules.  A few years ago the democrats and Harry Reid changed senate rules to a simple majority of 51 senators to get a whole bunch of Obama's dirty work done (such as federal judges).  It was/is seen as a hostile move.
The Gorsuch nomination will not need the "nuke" option.  He will be confirmed with 60+ votes.  The democrats will huff and puff to pander to their bases, but in the end they will cave.