St. Mary’s vs. Grand Canyon Betting Prediction, Best Bets, and Odds

• St. Mary’s is 23-2 since over their last 25 games

• The Gaels are allowed the second-fewest points per game in the country

• Grand Canyon has the eleventh-best point differential in the country (+12.8)

Friday night features one of the most exciting matchups from the first round: St. Mary’s vs Grand Canyon. These are two impressive mid-majors, but they are at very different points in their development. St. Mary’s is a perennial tournament team that has built one of the best basketball programs on the West Coast. Grand Canyon has only been a Division 1 team for over a decade but has spent millions building a winning program.

Below, we will share everything you need to know to bet confidently on tonight’s St. Mary’s vs Grand Canyon game.

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St. Mary’s vs. Grand Canyon Prediction and Odds

St. Mary’s Gaels

The Gaels stumbled out of the gate this season, losing five of their first eight games. However, something clicked that led them to go 23-2 since then. They were 15-1 in the WCC, which led them to a regular season and tournament title. St. Mary’s locked in the WCC Tournament win by beating Gonzaga on a neutral court, showing they are ready to shine in March Madness.

St. Mary’s is one of the best defensive teams in the country. They are second in the nation in opponent scoring, allowing just 58.7 points per game. That level of defense supports a solid offense, making the Gaels incredibly difficult to beat. 

The player to watch for St. Mary’s is guard Aidan Mahaney. The sophomore leads the team in scoring (13.9 PPG) but struggles with consistency. While he makes 36.2% of his threes, Mahaney makes just 39.4% of all shots. He can go off for 25 on any night or struggle to score 6. If the Gaels want to get past a good Grand Canyon team, they’ll need their top scorer to have his A-game.

Grand Canyon Lopes

The Lopes dominated their schedule this season, finishing with a 29-4 record. While their record is inflated by playing in a weak WAC, they have an impressive win against San Diego State. However, that massive upset came in the comfort of their home arena. The question now is how that success will translate on the largest stage in the country.

There isn’t much that Grand Canyon doesn’t do well. They led the WAC in scoring (79.8 PPG), field goal percentage (46.5%), rebounding (38.2 RPG), blocks (5.3 BPG), and opponent field goal percentage (40.5%). That success has led them to post the eleventh-best point differential in the country (+12.8).

If the Lopes want to win, they’ll need Tyon Grant-Foster to be at his best. The 6’7” guard averages 19.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. While his size makes it almost impossible for him to guard in the WAC, St. Mary’s has some big bodies down low that will make his life hard. That could force Foster to shoot from three, where he only makes 33.1% of his shots.

St. Mary’s vs. Grand Canyon Pick

• PICK: St. Mary’s -5.5 (-105) at FanDuel Sportsbook

We really like this Grand Canyon team, but St. Mary’s is built for a run to the Final Four. Their defense is far better, as was their schedule. Their scoring is balanced, meaning they don’t have to worry about one star having a big day.

As good as the Lopes offense is, they will run into a brick wall tonight when they face one of the nation’s top defenses.

How to Watch St. Mary’s vs. Grand Canyon

• When: Friday, March 22 @ 10:05 PM EST

• Where: Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, WA

• TV: truTV

• Streaming: March Madness Live App

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