It is a battle for first place in the West Coast Conference on Thursday night on ESPN, as the Saint Mary’s Gaels visit the #13 Gonzaga Bulldogs, with the Bulldogs favored in public betting NCAA basketball. Both teams come into this game at 6-0 in the WCC, so this is a huge game. The two teams have dominated the West Coast Conference, combining to win 17 straight regular season championships. Let’s look at Thursday’s game and NCAA basketball picks.
Saint Mary’s Gaels vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs
Date and Time: Thursday, January 18, 9 p.m. ET
Location: McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, WA
NCAA Basketball Odds at SBG:
Saint Marys CA +8 (-110) 149½ (-110)
Gonzaga -8 (-110) 149½ (-110)
Saint Mary’s vs. Gonzaga TV Coverage: ESPN
Saint Mary’s comes into this game at 17-2, while Gonzaga is 16-3, but it is the Bulldogs who are ranked at #13 in the country. Saint Mary’s is starting to get some attention, as they were listed in the others receiving votes category this week and they would definitely move into the Top 25 with a win at Gonzaga. The Gaels and Bulldogs will meet twice during the regular season. “Obviously it’s two of the top teams in league and it’s going to be much anticipated,” Gonzaga guard Silas Melson said recently.
Gonzaga has lost three times this season, but two of those losses were to Florida and No. 1 Villanova. The Bulldogs have gotten strong play this season from Johnathan Williams and Josh Perkins. Gonzaga has dominated in WCC play, winning by double-digits in all six of their games. Gonzaga is 5-2 ATS at home, with five games going over and two going under the public betting NCAA basketball number. They are scoring about 90 points per game and giving up 69 per contest.
The Gaels lost to Washington State and Georgia in late November, but have since won 12 straight games. Saint Mary’s has been much better ATS on the road, as they are 5-1, while they are just 2-4-1 ATS at home. The Gaels have gone over the total three times on the road and under three times. They are scoring almost 81 points per game and giving up 65 per contest.
Key Stat
The Gaels are 1-6 ATS in the last 7 meetings at Gonzaga. The Gaels are 4-0 against the spread at the online sportsbook in their last 4 road games. The Gaels are 9-2-2 ATS in their last 13 vs. the West Coast. The Bulldogs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games. The Bulldogs are 34-15-2 ATS in their last 51 vs. the West Coast.
The Under is 6-2 in the Gaels last 8 vs. the West Coast. The Under is 36-16-1 in the Gaels last 53 road games. The Over is 8-1 in the Bulldogs last 9 home games. The Under is 18-4 in the last 22 meetings at Gonzaga.
Saint Mary’s vs. Gonzaga NCAA Basketball Picks
Almost all of the trends are with Gonzaga in this contest, but I actually think Saint Mary’s is the better team. It is never easy to win on the road for any team in Spokane but Saint Mary’s will not be intimated. I will take the points in public betting NCAA basketball with the Gaels in this one.
NCAA Basketball Betting Pick: Saint Mary’s
NCAA Basketball Betting Score Prediction: Saint Mary’s 79, Gonzaga 76