The fourth-seeded Monmouth Hawks (21-12) battle the second-seeded Saint Peter’s Peacocks (18-11) in the championship game of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament Saturday. Tip-off from Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., is slated for 4 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Monmouth vs. Saint Peter’s odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Monmouth dropped three of its final four games to close out the regular season. That streak began with a 70-65 setback to these Peacocks Feb. 25. However, the Hawks have rallied to win two tournament games by a combined 7 points and find themselves on the doorstep of the NCAA Tournament.
Saint Peter’s has been impressive in dispatching Fairfield and Quinnipiac in its two MAAC tourney conquests. The Peacocks have a shutdown defense that has worked well against foes at both ends of the pace spectrum. SPU has held opposing shooters to a 44.7% effective field-goal mark on the season — that ranks ninth in the nation.
See also: Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports
Monmouth vs. Saint Peter’s odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:20 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Monmouth +122 (bet $100 to win $122) | Saint Peter’s -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Monmouth +2.5 (-108) | Saint Peter’s -2.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 124.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Monmouth vs. Saint Peter’s odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Saint Peter’s 62, Monmouth 61
Money line
Peg Saint Peter’s as being somewhat fortunate in the recent exchange of 3-point figures. The Peacocks can be undone by teams that defend the perimeter well on defense and get to the free-throw line on offense, and Monmouth is capable in both areas. Enough so to consider the Hawks a 45% probability in this title game.
The price here is awfully close to providing some slim leverage. Consider a partial-unit play on MONMOUTH (+122) or a line watch and a triggered wager at +125 or +130.
Against the spread
The Hawks are 7-0 ATS in their last seven games as underdogs. The underdog is 4-0-1 ATS in the last five meetings in this Garden State rivalry.
Monmouth lost by 5 points in both regular-season meetings in 2021-22. Both games were close affairs all the way, played without big momentum swings. The Hawks either winning this third meeting or getting the deficit down a notch is likely just enough to warrant a play on MONMOUTH +2.5 (-108).
Over/Under
The low total and the way games 1 and 2 this season played out make this a difficult total with which to quibble. So don’t.
AVOID THE O/U PLAY ON THIS ONE.
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