WCC Tournament 2023 Odds, Picks, Schedule & How to Watch
By Chris Amberley in College Basketball
Updated: March 1, 2023 at 10:47 am ESTPublished:
- The WCC Tournament begins on Thursday, March 2nd in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Saint Mary’s is the number-one seed, but three-time defending champ Gonzaga has the shortest odds
- Check out the latest WCC Tournament odds, plus predictions and best bets
For the last 14 years, the West Coast Conference has essentially been a two horse race. Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s are the only two programs to win the WCC title during that stretch, and online sportsbooks expect the two conference powerhouses to be the last teams standing once again this year.
The WCC Tournament tips-off on Thursday, March 2nd from The Orleans Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a ticket that isn’t backing the Bulldogs or Gales.
WCC Tournament Odds
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| #2 Gonzaga | -115 |
| #1 Saint Mary’s | -105 |
| #3 Santa Clara | +5000 |
| #5 BYU | +5000 |
| #6 San Francisco | +10000 |
| #4 Loyola Marymount | +10000 |
| #10 Pepperdine | +50000 |
| #8 Portland | +50000 |
| #7 Pacific | +100000 |
| #9 San Diego | +100000 |
Gonzaga boasts the shortest price to win the tourney at -115, followed by Saint Mary’s at -105. The Gales earned the number one seed thanks to a better NCAA Net ranking, but the Bulldogs boast shorter March Madness odds and a higher spot in the AP Top-25 (10 vs 17).
Odds as of Feb. 28, 2023, at DraftKings Sportsbook.
WCC Tournament Format
Neither Gonzaga or Saint Mary’s will see action until Monday. That’s because the top-two seeds earn byes directly to the semifinals. Seeds three and four are given byes into the quarters, while the fifth and sixth seeds get a free pass into the second round.
That leaves seeds seven through 10 to do battle on the tournament’s opening night. The second round tips off on Friday, March 3rd, with the quarterfinals set for Saturday, March 4th. Semifinal action will take place on Monday, March 6th, with the championship game set for Tuesday, March 7th.
2023 University Credit Union #WCChoops Men's Basketball Tournament bracket is set!
SEE YOU IN LAS VEGAS!
🎟: https://t.co/HlTlZagqrG
🗒: https://t.co/NESDpbfQJY pic.twitter.com/niOvPmmCns— West Coast Conference (@WCCsports) February 26, 2023
Regional networks will air the first two rounds, with ESPN2 providing quarterfinal and semifinal coverage. The championship game, which is expected to feature the Bulldogs and Gaels, will get the full ESPN treatment.
WCC Tournament Betting Trends
Gonzaga is the reigning three-time defending champ. They’ve won the conference title in 11 of the past 14 years, with Saint Mary’s playing spoiler in 2019, 2012 and 2010.
The two programs have met in the final in 10 of the past 14 years, and 12 times overall since 2003. They’re the only two WCC teams to rank inside the top-75 in KenPom’s overall efficiency metrics, and both enter play red-hot, especially the Bulldogs.
Gonzaga has won six straight and nine of 10. Each of their past six victories have come by at least seven points, while three of the wins have been by 17 or more points.
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) February 26, 2023
Saint Mary’s on the other hand, has won 16 of 18. Their +12.3 average score margin is the seventh best in the country, while only three teams in the nation allow fewer points per game (59.1).
Considering the form and historical dominance of the WCC by the Bulldogs and Gaels, it’s not worth trying to peg a longshot to shock the college hoops world and win this tournament. A potential longshot would most likely have to upset Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s on back-to-back nights, and that isn’t a realistic proposition.
Loyola Marymount is the lone WCC program to beat both conference juggernauts this season. Oddsmakers don’t give LMU much of a chance given their +10000 price tag, and the Bulldogs recently avenged their loss to the Lions by pounding them 108-65.
WCC Tournament Predictions
As it stands before the tournament starts, Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s project as top-4 seeds in the March Madness Bracket. The Bulldogs have been a number one seed five times at the NCAA Tournament, but this year’s program is being knocked for its underwhelming defense.
Gonzaga grades out 88th in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom. They rank 287th in scoring defense and 274th in opponent effective field goal percentage.
Luckily, their offense is good enough to cover up those defensive warts. The Bulldogs are number one in adjusted offensive efficiency and points per game. They also rank first in field goal percentage, and 33rd in three-point efficiency.
Gonzaga has scored at least 88 points in five of their last six games, and are fresh off avenging an early season loss to the Gaels in their latest outing.
Gonzaga vs Saint Mary’s Head-to-Head
| 25-5 | Record | 25-6 |
| 86.3 | Points per Game | 71.5 |
| 75.0 | Points Against per Game | 59.1 |
| 57.9% | Effective FG% | 52.8% |
| 52.2% | Opponent Effective FG% | 45.9% |
Normally the Bulldogs are in the -300 range or longer to win the WCC Tournament. Getting them at -115 is a steal. They’ve owned the conference over the last two decades and just asserted their dominance by beating their biggest rival.
Their form is fantastic and their offense is the best in the nation. Saint Mary’s is a legitimate threat, but you’ll get much worse odds on Gonzaga if you wait until the championship game to wager on them.
Pick: Gonzaga Bulldogs (-115)
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Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
