Gonzaga Bulldogs vs Saint Mary's Gaels Odds
| Gonzaga Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -110 | 141.5 -110o / -110u | +120 |
| Saint Mary's Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -110 | 141.5 -110o / -110u | -145 |
It's time to dive into the Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Saint Mary's Gaels odds and make a prediction for their college basketball game on Saturday, March 2.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs are pleased to be in a win-and-in scenario on Saturday evening as they'll presumably clinch an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament if they defeat the Saint Mary's Gaels on the road.
The Gaels have been one of the best teams in the nation since December and boast a remarkable 15-0 conference record. They have the opportunity to do special things in the NCAA tournament.
This matchup has all of the makings of a potential classic, especially since the Gaels narrowly defeated the Bulldogs a couple of weeks ago in Spokane. Let's break down the matchup and uncover the Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary's best bet.
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Recently, the Bulldogs have shown significant improvement, as evidenced by their impressive victory over Kentucky a couple of weeks ago. Despite their commendable performance, the Bulldogs aren't a good match against the Gaels due to the latter's exceptional defensive skills.
The Gaels are known for being one of the best defensive teams in the country, which puts the Bulldogs at a disadvantage.
Mark Few, who has coached at Gonzaga for the past 21 years, has never missed the NCAA tournament. To keep this streak alive, his team must win Saturday.
However, that seems unlikely as the Gaels' defensive prowess was evident in the previous matchup. To win, the Bulldogs must capitalize on the Gaels' weaknesses on the perimeter and consistently score inside.
Many believe the Gaels' offense is inferior to that of the Bulldogs, but that's not necessarily the case. The Gaels are as capable as the Bulldogs in terms of offense, making this a challenging game.
Graham Ike and Braden Huff must dominate down low, and Gonzaga can't afford to miss any opportunities. I have doubts about the Bulldogs in this game as they have been overrated all season.
Gonzaga has shown improvement in recent games, but its defense isn't as strong as the Gaels'.
If Gonzaga does win, it'll likely be in a low-scoring game.
Saint Mary's Gaels
Since December, Aidan Mahaney and Augustas Marciulionis have formed one of the most consistent backcourt duos in the country. They have played a major role in shifting the Gaels' offense and making it much more consistent.
Coach Randy Bennett's team has an excellent defense and an offense good enough to win multiple NCAA tournament games. They Gaels are one of the best teams in the nation, but their free-throw shooting is their most glaring weakness.
They are shooting 66% from the free-throw line, which has cost them games. To sweep the season series and cap off an undefeated regular season in WCC play, this matchup against the Bulldogs will have to play out similarly to the previous meeting.
The Bulldogs can be exposed on the perimeter, which means Mahaney and Marciulionis will have to have excellent games from deep. Saint Mary's prefers a slow tempo and relies heavily on its defense, while the Bulldogs love to run and get out in transition.
However, the Gaels are more than capable of slowing them down, which they displayed in the first matchup. I expect a low-scoring game between these teams, and while the Bulldogs look like a completely different team since early January, I think the Gaels are much better and will end up winning this game.
Gonzaga vs Saint Mary's
Betting Pick & Prediction
I doubt the Bulldogs can win on the road, but I have a feeling the Gaels will eventually lose their momentum. Hence, I confidently bet the under for this game.
Both teams are capable of defending well inside, but the Bulldogs' perimeter defense remains uncertain. The Bulldogs tend to play fast, and if the Gaels start hitting shots from 3, this will be a high-scoring game.
However, given that the Gaels are poor at free throws and play at a slow pace, I expect this game to be low-scoring, similar to the previous matchup.
I expect the Gaels to keep the Bulldogs' offense in check and have faith in both defenses to limit the scoring, forcing the Bulldogs to play in the half-court, which will decrease their offensive efficiency.
Pick: Under 142 or Better
