Iona vs Marist Odds, Lines & Spread for 2023 MAAC Title Game

• Iona faces Marist in the MAAC Championship on Saturday, March 11th
• The Red Foxes were the worst team in the conference in the regular season, while the Gaels were first
• Keep reading for the Iona vs Marist odds, preview, and prediction

A berth in March Madness is on the line Saturday as Marist will be looking to continue their Cinderella run in the MAAC Tournament against the favorite Iona. The tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Find the Iona vs Marist odds below.

The Gaels have cruised to the final as expected and have now won 13 in a row coming into the title game. As for the Red Foxes, they were atrocious during the regular season but are playing great basketball at the moment, beating last year’s Big Dance representative Saint Peter’s in the semifinals Friday.

Iona vs Marist Odds

Iona is a heavy 14.5-point favorite here. Moneyline odds aren’t available quite yet, but they will be very lopsided.

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Odds as of March 10th at DraftKings.

Iona is Dominant

The Gaels have been cruising for weeks now and that’s continued into the conference tournament. After finishing with a 25-7 record in 2022-23 (17-3 in MAAC play), Rick Pitino’s squad earned a bye to the quarterfinals on Wednesday where they took down Mount St. Mary’s by 20 points before beating Niagara 71-59 on Friday evening.

The dynamic backcourt of Walter Clayton and Daniss Jenkins combined for 36 points on 10 for 18 shooting from the field, while big man Nelly Junior Joseph finished with 16 points of his own and six rebounds. The Gaels really took advantage of the Purple Eagles’ mistakes, translating 12 turnovers into 21 points.

Your 2023 MAAC POTY Walter Clayton Jr. following the Gaels Semifinal Victory!#GaelNation | #MAACHoops pic.twitter.com/q6F8SAB8hL

— Iona Men’s Basketball (@IonaGaelsMBB) March 11, 2023

13 consecutive victories for Iona will surely have them feeling confident Saturday against a Marist team they’ve already comfortably beaten twice this season by an average of 23 points. However, the Red Foxes cannot be taken for granted. That being said, as long as the Gaels play clean basketball and the Big 3 produce, they should have no issues taking home the MAAC crown here.

Can Marist’s Cinderella Run Continue?

Just about no one could’ve predicted that Marist would be on the verge of their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1987, but that’s the reality right now. While the Red Foxes were only 6-14 in conference action in the season, the team has woken up in a big way in this tourney.

Wins over Manhattan, Quinnipiac, and Saint Peter’s put them in the final Saturday. Marist came out guns blazing against the Peacocks, who represented the MAAC in March Madness a year ago. John Dunne’s squad outscored Saint Peter’s 41-20 in the first half, quickly setting the tone.

The @signaturerings Player of the Game@MaristMBB Patrick Gardner
#MAACHoops x #maAChoops23 pic.twitter.com/goWDoV5qSf

— #MAACHoops (@MAACHoops) March 11, 2023

Center Patrick Gardner led the way with 18 points in the victory, also hauling in 11 boards. Four of their five starters finished in double figures. Saturday marks the first time Marist has ever made the MAAC Tournament final. They’re also the very first bottom seed to reach the final. Talk about getting hot at the right time.

Iona vs Marist Prediction

While the Red Foxes have impressed, they will meet their maker. Iona is far above the rest in the MAAC and proved it all season long. Plus, Marist came nowhere even close to competing with the Gaels in their two matchups. I expect Pitino’s group to comfortably cover and roll into the Big Dance.

Pick: Iona -14 (-110)