Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary’s College Basketball prediction, preview
This is a really interesting spot in the WCC regular season finale, with Gonzaga already locked into the No. 1 seed in the conference. So with the Bulldogs going on the road to Saint Mary’s for a big rivalry game, the outcome likely matters more for the home team. The Gaels could really boost their stock and seeding if they can get a win over the Zags, and they’re getting a ton of respect in the market.
Just the fact alone that this game only opened with Gonzaga laying a point and a half seems to be factoring in how big of a game this is for Saint Mary’s. But I actually feel the market on this one is a bit out of control. We’re getting the Zags at an extremely cheap price in conference here, and just because the WCC is locked up it doesn’t leave the game meaningless. Gonzaga could win out in an attempt to grab a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament, depending on how some other contenders play in their conference tournaments.
While the Bulldogs are locked into the No. 1 seed in the WCC Tournament, the conference crown is a bit more complicated. If Saint Mary’s wins, both teams have two losses in the conference, and the Gaels get a share of the title. It’s the Zags’ last season in the WCC that they’ve dominated for so many years. I think it would be meaningful for Mark Few and company to get a road win at their rival to win the WCC regular season title outright to end their tenure in the conference.
The Zags are the better team on both sides of the ball, ranking higher in defensive and offensive efficiency on KenPom. I think they end this one off right with the outright regular season and conference tournament titles.
