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The Gonzaga Bulldogs (25-6) and Saint Mary’s Gaels (25-7) meet in the West Coast Conference (WCC) Championship Game Tuesday at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary’s odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
Second-seeded Gonzaga started slow against San Francisco in the semifinals, but the Bulldogs pulled away in the 2nd half for an 89-77 win over the Dons to cover the 9.5-point number as the Over (150) easily cashed. The Zags have won 9 games in a row, with the last loss coming Feb. 3 against the Gaels in Spokane.
First-seeded Saint Mary’s roughed up Santa Clara 79-65 Monday to cover an 11-point number as the Over (135.5) comfortable cashed. SMC has covered 7 of the past 9 outings, while the Over is on a 5-1 run.
Gonzaga exacted a little revenge on Saint Mary’s in the regular-season finale in Moraga, covering as a 3.5-point underdog in a 70-57 win as the Under (142) cashed.
Gonzaga is No. 15 and Saint Mary’s is No. 20 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
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Gonzaga 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 at 7:06 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Gonzaga -145 (bet $145 to win $100) | Saint Mary’s +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
- Against the spread: Gonzaga -2.5 (-110) | Saint Mary’s +2.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 139.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary’s picks and predictions
Prediction
Gonzaga 71, Saint Mary’s 66
Moneyline
GONZAGA (-145) is worth a look as a moderate favorite in Vegas. For a time, it appears Mark Few’s bunch was on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. However, the Bulldogs have rattled off 9 straight wins, and it likely won’t matter if it wins or loses despite a 3-5 SU record in Quad 1 games. One of those wins came against Saint Mary’s (+120) in the regular-season finale.
Against the spread
GONZAGA -2.5 (-110) is worth playing, as it simply needs to win by 3, and it’s substantially cheaper than the moneyline. The Bulldogs have covered 3 in a row, while going 6-3 against the spread (ATS) in the past 9 outings.
Saint Mary’s +2.5 (-110) has covered just once in the past 4 meetings, and it is 3-6-1 ATS across the past 10 meetings. These teams met in the WCC Tournament last season, with Gonzaga routing Saint Mary’s 77-51. It might not be that lopsided, but until it falls, the Zags are still the king of the WCC.
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Over/Under
UNDER 139.5 (-110) is the lean, but go with a half-unit at most.
The total cashed in each of the regular-season meetings, while also cashing in last season’s tournament game.
Saint Mary’s has cashed the Over in 5 of the past 6 games, but the only Under came in the regular-season finale against Gonzaga. There is risk going low, so be careful.
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