The Colorado State Rams (7-4) battle the Saint Mary’s Gaels (9-3) at the McKeon Pavilion Sunday. Tip from Moraga, Calif., is set for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Colorado State vs. Saint Mary’s odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Saint Mary’s beat New Mexico State 81-68 Wednesday, pushing as 13-point favorites to snap a 3-game covering streak. The Gaels are 7-4-1 against the spread (ATS) on the season and are 7-1 straight up at home. They are led by a dynamic defense that allows the 10th-fewest points per game (57.3) in the nation. Offensively, 4 Gaels average double figures, but those 4 are the only players averaging over 6 points per game.
Colorado State is just 4-6 ATS on the season and 5-4-1 O/U. They’re 0-2 straight up on the road and 1-1 on neutral courts. The Rams beat NAIA-side Peru State 115-72 last Sunday, their last time on the court. Prior to that, they were on a 2-game losing streak ATS are 4-5 ATS in their last 9 games with a spread.
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Colorado State at Saint Mary’s odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:51 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Colorado State +475 (bet $100 to win $475) | Saint Mary’s -750 (bet $750 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Colorado State +11.5 (-105) | Saint Mary’s -11.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 131.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Colorado State at Saint Mary’s picks and predictions
Prediction
Saint Mary’s 73, Colorado State 60
Moneyline
PASS.
The Gaels have been outstanding at home, and the Rams have been horrible on the road. Couple the 2, and the only playable side is the Gaels to win outright, but at (-700), that has no value.
Against the spread
BET SAINT MARY’S -11.5 (-110).
Colorado State has not been challenged this season, and when it was, it struggled mightily. In both times being an underdog, it failed to cover.
It lost at Colorado 93-65 as a 4-point road underdog and 68-56 to Penn State as a 4.5-point road underdog. The Rams’ defense ranks 170th in opponents’ points per game (68). They just aren’t where they need to be, especially against good opponents.
The Gaels are 2-2-1 as double-digit favorites and 2-1-1 as double-digit favorites at home. With one of the best defenses in the country, they should be able to limit the Rams, who wouldn’t have covered this spread against their other capable opponents.
Back SAINT MARY’S -11.5 (-115).
Over/Under
LEAN OVER 131.5 (-115).
The Gaels do have an elite defense, but its offense has been heating up too, scoring at least 66 points in 3 straight games. They average 69.6 per game.
Prior to their NAIA opponent, the Rams had gone Over in 3 straight games as well. They sit 5th in the country in field goal percentage as well (51.1%).
They also rank 16th in three-point shooting (40.1%). There is variety in their scoring as well with 6 players averaging over 8 points per game.
Considering the Rams should want to push the pace and the Gaels offense has been trending up, back the OVER 131.5 (-115).
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