Gonzaga and St. Mary’s meet for the third time this season in the West Coast Conference tournament championship game Tuesday night in Las Vegas. The Bulldogs, probable No. 1 seeds for the upcoming NCAA tournament, won the first match-up this season by 16 points. But the Gaels, who are also headed to the Dance, pulled an upset of the Zags in the second meeting. So these teams will decide things in a big way Tuesday night.
Which way are we going here with our free college basketball betting pick?
College Basketball Betting Odds
Tuesday’s CBB betting lines opened Gonzaga as a 13.5-point favorite over St. Mary’s, with an over/under of right around 142. Both those figures were holding steady in the early betting action but the spread has slide down to -12.5 and the total to as low vas 140 at some sportsbooks.
According to Sagarin’s CBB ratings, the Bulldogs should only be favored by 9.5 points for this match-up.
St. Mary’s Betting Preview
The Gaels reached this WCC tournament championship game by holding off Santa Clara in a semi-final bout Monday 75-72. St. Mary’s grabbed a double-digit lead eight minutes into the game, let the Broncos get within 39-34 at the half, then used a 10-0 spurt out of the locker room to go up 15. But SMC then allowed Santa Clara to rally within one point in the final minute before a defensive block and two free throws sealed the victory.
However, the Gaels pissed away the cover as 4.5-point favorites.
St. Mary’s shot 49 percent from the floor Monday while holding the Broncos, who shot 49 percent on the season, to just 41 percent FG shooting.
The Gaels are now 7-2 both SU and ATS over their last nine games and 13-3 SU, 11-5 ATS in WCC play this season.
Gonzaga Betting Preview
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, reached this WCC tournament title tilt by holding off San Francisco in the other semi-final Monday night 81-71. Gonzaga popped out to a 9-0 lead on the Dons and took a 47-27 advantage into halftime. The Zags pushed their lead to 71-47 with nine minutes left, but, unfortunately for those of us who backed them financially, then took their foot off the gas and allowed USF to get within eight late. Gonzaga held on for the win but pissed away the cover at -14.5.
The Bulldogs shot 58 percent from the field Monday, held the Dons to just 38 percent shooting but turned the ball over 13 times, which basically cost them the money.
So Gonzaga is now 18-1 SU, 10-7-2 ATS over its last 19 games and 14-1 SU, 7-6-2 ATS in WCC play this season.
- Get more details: St. Mary’s vs. Gonzaga WCC Title Game 3/8/22 Betting Matchup Stats
St. Mary’s-Gonzaga Recent History
The Zags beat the Gaels seven times in a row from 2020 through the first meeting this season, a 74-58 victory one month ago in Spokane. But St. Mary’s caught the Bulldogs napping two weeks ago and pulled a 67-57 upset in Moraga.
Gonzaga pushed the spread in that first meeting at -16 while the Gaels won the second meeting outright as 10-point home dogs.
Also, both those games played under their totals.
College Basketball Betting Trends
Gonzaga is 5-4-1 ATS over the last ten meetings with St. Mary’s.
Totals Report
- The Under is 15-14 in Gaels games this season, which are averaging 129 total points.
- The Under is 17-11 in Bulldogs games this season, which are averaging 153 points.
- The Under is 4-1 over the last five meetings between these two teams.
