Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Saint Mary's Gaels: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/4/2023

Time: 10:30 p.m. ET

Venue: University Credit Union Pavilion, Moraga, CA

Where to watch: ESPN

DraftKings: Saint Mary's -3.5

FanDuel: Saint Mary's -3.5

BetMGM: Saint Mary's -3.5

Caesars: Saint Mary's -3.5

No. 12 Gonzaga: 19-4 (8-1 WCC)

No. 18 Saint Mary's: 20-4 (9-0 WCC)

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Gonzaga: won 88-70 vs. Santa Clara

Saint Mary's: won 68-59 vs. San Francisco

Forget any of the other college basketball games you plan on watching this weekend. Forget anything that you know of what may transpire anywhere else in the college basketball landscape. This is the game that we are all gathered around to watch and I can't believe that I'm looking at the spread right now and seeing that the team that has not yet won anything major is favored over Gonzaga.

 

The St. Mary's Gaels are favored by 3.5 over the Gonzaga Bulldogs. That is incredible. I don't think we have ever approached a time where St. Mary's, which is undoubtedly one of the most surprising shockers this season, is favored over a team that has had national prominence for years. I can't remember the last time Gonzaga was an underdog in any regular season game.

 

And yet here we are, as the game now takes place in Moraga on Saturday, and there is a legitimate chance that we are looking add, for the first time outright West Coast conference champions should St. Mary's get the job done.

 

It has been a very interesting few weeks for both of these programs. And I'm not necessarily sure if that is going to mean that there is something on the horizon with either one of them, or that things are going to start turning around. One thing we do know is that Gonzaga has rebounded very nicely since losing 68-67 against Loyola Marymount a couple of weeks ago in the first home loss in 76 games for Gonzaga. Since then they've had a interesting battle against Pacific in which they won by 9, went up to Portland and won by 15, and as recently as earlier this week, Gonzaga beat Santa Clara 88-70.

 

“It’s kind of crazy, to be honest," Gonzaga senior forward Drew Timme said after he eclipsed 2,000 points against Santa Clara. "I hit that number in high school and it’s pretty cool. It’s a lot of points. Like I’ve been saying all year, it’s super cool, but as long as we win that puts a smile on my face.

 

"We can enjoy the milestones when I’m done here.”

 

Saint Mary's meanwhile has won eleven straight games and has looked mostly dominant in doing so. They swept the season series against San Francisco, they beat Pepperdine by 29, and they beat Santa Clara by 19. Throw in a one point victory over BYU and Saint Mary's has covered pretty much every single part of their basis right now. And now at 9-0 in conference play, this is the first time Gonzaga has felt any sort of resistance in the conference standings especially from its biggest rival.

 

“It’s really hard to think about it in any other way than that right now,” Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett said after winning his 500th game. “In time you’ll reflect back, and the memories you’ll have of the players and coaches. That’s why we’re sitting here. We’ve had really good players, really good assistant coaches and great administration, and I work at a great place.”

 

We really just need to sit back and enjoy what is happening with his rivalry. It's a perfect case of David versus Goliath but David has been in the gym working out and getting swole just for this moment. And again if you're not going to watch any other college basketball game on Saturday watch this one.

 

The home crowd is going to be one of the more electric crowds we have seen in a smaller venue this year because that college knows what's coming. That college knows that this game against Gonzaga is going to be the biggest game they play this year and they likely know that if they win this game that's going to result in a conference championship because I don't see how St. Mary's does not run the table the rest of the way with the exception of possibly losing to Gonzaga in Spokane later on down the year. But I really like St. Mary's in this game. Saint Mary’s 88, Gonzaga 85

Gonzaga is 7-11 ATS on the road the last 3 seasons.

Gonzaga is 13-9 ATS after covering 2 of 3 the last 3 seasons.

Saint Mary's is 32-21 ATS as a favorite the last 3 seasons.

Saint Mary's is 10-3 ATS off an under the last 3 seasons.

PG: Rasir Bolton

SG: Nolan Hickman

SF: Julian Strawther

PF: Anton Watson

C: Drew Timme

PG: Logan Johnson

SG: Aidan Mahaney

SF: Alex Ducas

PF: Kyle Bowen

C: Mitchell Saxen

Points: Drew Timme -- 21.1

Rebounds: Drew Timme -- 7.7

Assists: Drew Timme -- 3.5

Points: Aidan Mahaney -- 14.8

Rebounds: Mitchell Saxen -- 8.3

Assists: Logan Johnson -- 3.8