Gonzaga vs St. Mary’s Picks and Odds for WCC Title Game

• Top-ranked Gonzaga must win the WCC title game to be in the mix for the top overall seed in the Big Dance when they face Saint Mary’s on March 8 (9:00 pm ET)
• Saint Mary’s stunned the Zags less than two weeks ago and now tries to do so again as a 13-point betting underdog
• See the Gonzaga vs Saint Mary’s odds and how to wager on Tuesday’s WCC title game

The WCC bracket protects the top seeds. While the tournament began on Friday, top-seeded Gonzaga (25-3, 14-12-2 ATS), and second-seed Saint Mary’s (25-6, 18-11,2) had a bye into last night’s semifinals. Both won, though in each instance they were closer than expected games, and now they square off for the league title in Las Vegas.

In 13 straight years one of these two programs has cut down the nets at the end for the league tournament. The Zags, who reached the Final Four last year, have won two straight and eight of the last nine titles.

Gonzaga vs Saint Mary’s Odds Odds

Odds as of March 8 at Barstool Sportsbook.

The Zags opened up as a 13-point favorite, in a contest that features a total of 141. Tip-off is slated for 9:00pm ET at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. ESPN is televising the title game.

Gonzaga Bulldogs Betting Analysis

The Zags were Cinderellas in the early part of this century, but have firmly been among the best teams in the country recently. Twice in the last five years they have reached the NCAA Tournament Championship Game. This year they are 25-3, and have lost just once since early December and have maintained the best odds to win March Madness throughout the season. They even dipped into negative odds to reach the Final Four at times.

The Zags beat an NCAA Tournament bound San Francisco squad 81-71 on Monday. They led by 20 at halftime, and won by double-digits despite shooting just 3-for-13 on triples.

Gonzaga is shooting 64.5% at the half against USF after a Rasir Bolton three. Gonzaga’s post are a combined 12 of 17 for 29 points. Zags leads 47-27. pic.twitter.com/vwMhhfSUur

— Brenna Greene (@BrennaGreene_) March 8, 2022

Gonzaga leads the NCAA in scoring (88 points a game) and scoring margin (+22.8ppg). They are second in the nation in field goal percentage (52.6%), and number three in field goal defense (37.6%)

The Zags are led by freshman Chet Holmgren, who will likely be a top-five NBA draft pick. He averages 14.5 points a game, and 9.6 rebounds a contest, while blocking over 3.5 shots a game and shooting 62-percent.

Chet Holmgren continues to leave me speechless pic.twitter.com/mYjE6EvEcC

— Zach Milner (@ZachMilner13) March 8, 2022

Fellow big Drew Timme tallies almost 18 points a night, with 6.4 boards a game. This is the 25th straight year the Zags are in the WCC Title Game.

Saint Mary’s Gaels Betting Analysis

Saint Mary’s was a bad program until Randy Bennett began coaching in Moraga, CA. In 21 seasons at the helm he is more than 250 games over .500. The Gaels have danced seven times under Bennett, would have been in the bracket two years ago if COVID-19 didn’t postpone the tournament. They’ll be in the field when it is revealed on Sunday night and are slotted in as a #5 seed in the current March Madness bracket projection. If they beat Gonzaga again, they have a good chance to move up.

The Gaels beat Gonzaga at home February 26, and then were off until last night’s WCC Semifinal. Against Santa Clara, an NCAA bubble team, Saint Mary’s built a 15-point lead but needed some key defense down the stretch to hold on for a 75-72 victory.

The Gaels are ninth in the NCAA defensively, limiting opponents to 59.8 points a game. They play at one of the slowest tempos in the country, a sharp contrast to Gonzaga’s high-flying attack.

DOWN GOES #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/3LY5fdvG8e

— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) February 27, 2022

The 67-57 victory for the Gaels less than two weeks ago against Gonzaga was the lowest scoring output for the Bulldogs by more than 10 points this season

Four Gaels average between 10 and 13 points a game. Former walk-on Tommy Kuhse has been red hot. Over a five game stretch, he is averaging almost 20 points a contest. Skilled big Matthias Tass leads the way for the season in points (12.6ppg) and rebounds (6.2rpg).

ＳＩＸＴＨ ＭＡＮ ＯＦ ＴＨＥ ＹＥＡＲ

Tommy Kuhse @saintmaryshoops | #WCChoops pic.twitter.com/7bRlaXoMCT

— WCC Basketball (@WCChoops) March 2, 2022

Gonzaga had won six straight meetings with the Gaels, by an average of 18.3 points a game before Saint Mary’s stunner a week ago Saturday. Who can dictate the tempo will go a long way to determining what team covers.

Gonzaga vs Saint Mary’s Pick

Gonzaga won the first meeting this year 74-58. They dominated the glass, and severely outshot the Gaels. That said, it wasn’t exactly a track meet. Teams that want to play slow usually are able to if they can avoid turnovers. Saint Mary’s won’t give the ball away, and even if they lose, it should be low scoring.

Pick: Under 142 (-110)