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The 10th-seeded Vanderbilt Commodores (20-12) and No. 7 seed Saint Mary’s Gaels (28-5) tangle in an East Region first-round game of the NCAA Tournament. The opening tip at Rocket Arena in Cleveland is slated for 3:15 p.m. ET (truTV). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Vanderbilt vs. Saint Mary’s odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
Vanderbilt was ousted by Texas (79-72 as a 2.5-point favorite March 12) in an early-round SEC Tournament game, but the Commodores made the NCAA Tournament field as an at-large. Albeit against tough foes, Vandy enters Friday’s tilt having lost 3 consecutive games straight up and against the spread (ATS).
Saint Mary’s fell to Gonzaga in the March 11 West Coast Conference Tournament title game (58-51 as a 3.5-point underdog). The Gaels, who were ranked No. 15 in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll at the time, made the field as an at-large. SMC sports one of the top defenses in the nation. The Gaels’ loss to GU snapped an 8-game win streak; over that stretch, SMC yielded just 60.0 points per game.
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Vanderbilt vs. Saint Mary’s odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 5:03 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Vanderbilt +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Saint Mary’s -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Vanderbilt +4.5 (-115) | Saint Mary’s -4.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 135.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Vanderbilt vs. Saint Mary’s picks and predictions
Prediction
Saint Mary’s 70, Vanderbilt 68
Moneyline
No interest: PASS.
Against the spread
Both sides enter on ATS losing streaks (Vandy has lost 3 straight ATS), but peg the Commodores as having a a terrific defense to match the Gaels. And the back half of Vanderbilt’s season appears more solid than its win-loss record suggests.
The Gaels have filed ATS losses in their last 4 NCAA Tournament games.
In a close game, Vandy’s free-throw shooting (74.7%) could well play a prominent role.
TAKE THE COMMODORES +4.5 (-115).
Over/Under
The Over is 4-1 across Vandy’s last 5 games.
The pace here figures to be a clash of slow (SMC) vs. fast (VU). When looking at the up-tempo fives that the Gaels met in WCC play (including Gonzaga in that league’s tournament finale), Overs have hit in 5 straight such matchups.
The OVER 135.5 (-110) is the value side of this contest.
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