Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Saint Mary’s Gaels Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Gonzaga Bulldogs (24-2, 13-0 WCC) will travel to take on the Saint Mary’s Gaels (23-6, 11-3 WCC) Saturday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET at the University Credit Union Pavillion in Moraga, California and can be viewed on ESPN.  

SCORE PREDICTION 

Gonzaga 77, Saint Mary’s 64

BEST BETS 

Gonzaga -11 

GONZAGA BULLDOGS vs. SAINT MARY'S GAELS PREDICTIONS

The top ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs are coming off an 89-73 road win over San Francisco this past Thursday night. The Bulldogs had another efficient outing, shooting 54.8% from the field and 50% from three. Gonzaga’s only losses on the season came earlier in the year to Duke and Alabama. Thursday’s win makes it 17 straight for the Bulldogs, and are now a perfect 13-0 in conference play putting them atop the West Coast Conference. 

 The 23rd ranked Saint Mary’s Gaels enter this matchup after defeating San Diego on the road, 60-47. Saint Mary’s shot 50% from the field, but shot just 23.5% from three, well below their season average of 34.8 3PT%. The Gaels have now won 11 of their last 13 with the only two losses coming against Gonzaga and Santa Clara. Saint Mary’s is 11-3 in conference play this season, putting them 2.5 games behind Gonzaga for first place in the West Coast Conference.  

Gonzaga won the first meeting against Saint Mary’s 74-58. The Bulldogs shot 54.5 FG%, 50 3PT%, and won the rebounding battle 37-26. Meanwhile, Saint Mary’s was held to 39 FG% and 29.4 3PT%. I truly like this Saint Mary’s team, but it’s tough to bet against a powerhouse like Gonzaga. They are too efficient and have too many weapons on both sides of the floor. Laying the points with the Bulldogs. 

GONZAGA BULLDOGS vs. SAINT MARY'S GAELS BETTING ODDS

  • Gonzaga -650
  • Saint Mary's +450
  • Gonzaga -11.5 (-110)
  • Saint Mary's +11.5 (-110)
  • Over 144.5 (-110)
  • Under 144.5 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

GONZAGA BULLDOGS vs. SAINT MARY'S GAELS BETTING RESOURCES

  • Matchup: WCC
  • Date: Saturday, February 26, 2022
  • Venue: University Credit Union Pavilion
  • Location: Moraga, California
  • TV-Time: ESPN - 10:00 p.m. ET

GONZAGA BULLDOGS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 23-2
  • ATS: 13-11-1
  • O/U: 10-15

Gonzaga has posted a 14-11-1 ATS record on the season, and have gone 2-2-1 ATS in their last five games. In the last 20 matchups against Saint Mary’s, the Bulldogs have gone 14-5-1 ATS. The total has gone under in 15 of Gonzaga’s 26 games including five of their last six. The first meeting with Saint Mary’s ended in a push with Gonzaga as 16-point favorites.  

The Bulldogs offense ranks as one of, if not, the best in the country. This season Gonzaga is averaging 89.5 PPG (1st), 53 FG% (1st), 38 3PT% (19th), 18.9 APG (2nd), and 42.6 RPG (3rd). Junior forward Drew Timme has been great for the Bulldogs this season averaging a team high of 18.1 PPG. Seven-foot Freshman center Chet Holmgren has also been giving opposing teams plenty of trouble. Holmgren is averaging 14,7 PPG, 9.8 RPG, and 3.6 BPG. Expect Gonzaga to stick to the usual game plan of focusing on team basketball as opposed to individual play.  

From a statistical standpoint, Gonzaga’s defense does not rank as well as the offense, but has still been very good. On the season, the Bulldogs are allowing 64.9 PPG (55th), 37.4 FG% (2nd), 30.4 3PT% (44th), while averaging 6.8 SPG (153rd) and 5.9 BPG (7th). Gonzaga did a nice job of holding the Gaels to low shooting percentages in the first matchup, expect the same game plan headed into this one.  

SAINT MARY'S GAELS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 22-6
  • ATS: 16-9-2
  • O/U: 13-14

Saint Mary’s has rewarded bettors with a 17-9-2 ATS record this season. In their last five games, the Gaels have posted a 3-1-1 ATS record. The total has gone under in 15 of Saint Mary’s 28 games played, as well as going under in eight of their last nine games when playing as an underdog. The first matchup with Gonzaga ended in a push with Saint Mary's as 16-point underdogs.  

The Gaels are a defensive minded team, but the offense has been both consistent and efficient throughout the season. Entering this matchup, Saint Mary’s is averaging 69.7 PPG (220th), 46.3 FG% (67th), 34.8 3PT% (126th), 13.8 APG (132nd), and 33.8 RPG (260th). Saint Mary’s offense was only able to put up 58 points in their first matchup against Gonzaga. The Gaels will have to find a way to get more buckets this time around as Gonzaga has scored less than 70 points just two times this season.  

Saint Mary’s has thrived on their defense this year and ranks as one of the best in the nation in points allowed per game. On the season the Gaels are allowing 59.5 PPG (9th), 42.4 FG% (140th), 33.3 3PT% (168th), while averaging 7.2 SPG (109th) and 2.4 BPG (294th).  It is much easier said than done against this Gonzaga team, but Saint Mary’s will need to focus on slowing down Gonzaga’s offense. If they allow the Bulldogs to shoot over 50% then the results will be very similar to the first matchup.  

Gonzaga has covered the spread in three of its last four road games. (AP)

INSIDE THE STATS - GONZAGA BULLDOGS

  • Record: 23-2
  • PS/G: 89.5 (1st)
  • PA/G: 64.9 (55th)
  • ORtg: 120.1 (2nd)
  • DRtg: 87.1 (2nd)

INSIDE THE STATS - SAINT MARY'S GAELS

  • Record: 22-6
  • PS/G: 69.7 (225th)
  • PA/G: 59.5 (9th)
  • ORtg: 106.1 (108th)
  • DRtg: 90.6 (19th)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • ZAGA: Drew Timme - F (18.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg)
  • ZAGA: Chet Holmgren - C (14.7 ppg, 9.8 rpg)
  • SMC: Matthias Tass - F (12.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
  • SMC: Tommy Kuhse - G (11.3 ppg)

GONZAGA BULLDOGS vs. SAINT MARY'S GAELS BETTING CONCLUSION

One thing for certain about this game is you can expect Saint Mary’s to come out swinging. They do not take this rivalry lightly and will give the Zags everything they got. I think the first half will be very close, but think Gonzaga will run away with it late in the second half. Laying the points with Gonzaga on the road here.  

GONZAGA BULLDOGS vs. SAINT MARY'S GAELS BETTING TRENDS

  • Gonzaga has covered the spread in three of its last four road games.
  • Gonzaga has failed to cover the spread in two straight games.
  • Saint Mary's has gone UNDER the point total in three of its last four games.