The Gonzaga Bulldogs have gotten national recognition for their dominant showing in college basketball this season, as they are in the top-25. The Saint Mary’s Gaels could get there with a road win over Gonzaga this week.
It’s a tall task, but Saint Mary’s is one of the few teams in the West Coast Conference capable of hanging in against the Bulldogs. Both of these teams are undefeated through six games of conference play and the outcome of this game will give the winner the inside track at the regular season WCC title.
This is one of the premier games in the conference each year and this matchup is stacking up to be another classic. Gonzaga is going to be the favorite with the better resume and home court advantage.
Watch this regular season matchup live on Thursday, January 18, 2018, at 9 p.m. ET at McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington.
Opening NCAA Men’s Basketball Odds at BookMaker.eu
Saint Mary's
Gonzaga
Over/Under
Odds Analysis
Gonzaga is 16-3 straight up and 9-8-1 against the spread. The Bulldogs have covered in five of nine home games this season. Gonzaga is 9-6-1 against the spread as the favorite.
Saint Mary’s is 17-2 straight up and 9-8-1 against the spread. The Gaels have done a nice job on the road, covering in four of five attempts. Saint Mary’s has not yet been the underdog this season but will be in this one.
Key Stat
32.8. That’s the average margin of victory for Gonzaga in West Coast Conference play. The Bulldogs and the Saints are both undefeated against conference opponents this year but only one team will leave that way Thursday.
Gonzaga opened up conference play against Pacific on December 28th, coming into the game off a loss to San Diego State. The Bulldogs got back on track with a 48-point victory against the Tigers.
They also have big wins over Santa Clara and Portland, scoring more than 100 points in each of those victories. The Bulldogs’ most recent victory over San Francisco was its closest conference victory with Gonzaga winning 75-65 on Saturday.
Player to Watch
Jock Landale — The Gaels’ senior center is coming into this matchup off a strong performance against Pepperdine on Saturday. He finished with 32 points and 12 rebounds in his team’s 91-67 win over the Waves.
Landale was 13-of-15 from the field in that win over Pepperdine. The performance marked his eleventh double-double of the season and his second straight.
The 22-year-old is averaging 21.7 points and 10.3 rebounds a game. He has scored 30 points or more in four game this year and is more than capable of taking over a game so he presents a big challenge for Gonzaga this week.
The Bulldogs may have the better team overall but a strong game from Landale could change things in a hurry.
Free ATS Pick
Saint Mary’s is a worthy adversary and should be able to hang close in this matchup. While these programs aren’t in high-major conferences, they are both perennial March Madness participants and are on track to make it once again this season.
The Bulldogs are the slightly superior team, and the home court will be another big advantage. Keep an eye on the spread in this one. Gonzaga should be able to come away with a hard-earned victory, and should be able to hit enough free throws down the stretch which could help cover the spread.
The scoring total should be an intriguing number. Both offenses are solid while their defenses are also top-notch. The oddsmakers may choose to split the difference and plant a total middle of the road.
NCAA Men’s Basketball Odds: Gonzaga 77, Saint Mary’s 71
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