March Madness continues on Friday, with 16 games between 32 different teams. In the East region, #7 St. Mary’s takes on #10 Vanderbilt for the right to advance to the Round of 32. The higher-seeded Gaels enjoyed another terrific season, falling to Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference championship game. The Commodores survived an SEC gauntlet, finishing with a solid 20-12 record.
St. Mary’s enters this contest as 4.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 135.5 points. Below is my college basketball pick on DraftKings Sportsbook for Thursday’s March Madness showdown.
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#7 St. Mary’s vs. #10 Vanderbilt (12:15 PM)
As always, the Gaels do most of their damage on defense. St. Mary’s has allowed just 60.7 points per game, fifth-fewest in the nation. According to KenPom, the squad ranks eighth in adjusted defensive efficiency (92.2). If anyone is capable of taking over a game on offense, it’s Augustas Marciulionis. The senior guard leads the team in points (14.3) and assists (6.1) per game.
On the other side, Vanderbilt possesses one of the nation’s best scoring attacks. The Commodores rank 30th in adjusted offensive efficiency, putting up 79.6 points per game. This is a battle-tested group, having gone toe-to-toe with numerous SEC juggernauts. The results have been mixed, with a 5-9 record against Quad 1 opponents. However, that handful of wins includes victories against Tennessee, Texas A&M and Kentucky.
Vandy rosters a few names to watch; at the top of the list is Jason Edwards. The junior guard has averaged 17.0 points per game, shooting 43.4% from the field (36.0 3PT%). Still, while the Commodores can generate plenty of offense, they struggle on the other end of the floor. This season, they only rank 84th in adjusted defensive efficiency.
This is Vanderbilt’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017. St. Mary’s is making its fourth straight trip to the Big Dance under head coach Randy Bennett. In this clash of styles, the more experienced, physical Gaels should be able to pull out a win. Points will be at a premium, but the higher seed should manage to cover.
College Basketball Pick: St. Mary’s -4.5 (1 Unit)
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