- Grand Canyon vs Saint Mary’s concludes Round 1 of the March Madness tournament
- The college basketball odds favor the Lopes over the Gaels in Washington
- Read below for Grand Canyon vs Saint Mary’s prediction, odds and player props to bet
The first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament concludes with an intriguing 5 v12 matchup in the West Region as the No. 5 Saint Mary’s Gaels take on the No. 12 Grand Canyon Antelopes. Tipoff is scheduled for 10:05 PM EDT on Friday, March 22nd at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Washington.
Saint Mary’s enters as a 5.5-point favorite, with the over/under total set at 131.5 points. Player props are also available, with Tyon Grant-Foster projected to have a big evening.
Let’s delve into our Grand Canyon vs Saint Mary’s prediction, as we analyze the odds and determine the top player props to wager on.
Grand Canyon vs Saint Mary’s Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon | +5.5 (-115) | +180 | Over 131.5 (-110) |
| Saint Mary’s | -5.5 (-105) | -220 | Under 131.5 (-110) |
In the Grand Canyon vs Saint Mary’s Odds, the Gaels are -220 moneyline favorites, giving them an implied win probability of 69%.
Wondering how to watch Grand Canyon vs Saint Mary’s on Friday night? The game will be televised on TruTV.
Odds as of March 21st, 2024, at ESPN Bet. Browse the available March Madness betting promos for Friday night college basketball.
Grand Canyon Betting Trends
The Grand Canyon Antelopes, out of the Western Athletic Conference, come into the Big Dance with a 29-4 overall record and riding a five-game winning streak after capturing the WAC tournament title. GCU is making its third NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Bryce Drew in the last four years.
In their most recent outing, the Lopes defeated Southern Utah 84-66 in the WAC championship game behind 24 points from WAC Player of the Year Tyon Grant-Foster. The 6’7″ senior guard has been sensational all season, leading GCU in scoring at 19.8 points per game, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals.
A potential Cinderella this March: Grand Canyon 👀
12-seed led by one of the most explosive players in the country in Tyon Grant-Foster. pic.twitter.com/tuesj6XNvE
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) March 17, 2024
Joining Grant-Foster in the potent Lopes backcourt is junior point guard Ray Harrison, who averages 13.7 points and a team-high 3.9 assists. Senior forward Gabe McGlothan (13.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg) anchors the frontcourt and is expected to be at full strength after being limited by a hip injury late in the season.
As a team, Grand Canyon puts up 79.8 points per game (21st in the nation) and ranks 22nd in points per transition play according to ShotQualityBets.
The Lopes are a stellar 18-7 against the spread as an underdog dating back to 2020. They have covered in both games as a dog this season, beating San Diego State and Liberty outright in early December. GCU is 18-14 ATS overall, including 4-1 ATS on neutral courts, and has covered in five straight coming into the tournament.
Saint Mary’s Betting Trends
The Saint Mary’s Gaels punched their ticket to a third consecutive NCAA Tournament by winning the West Coast Conference tournament. They capped off by a 77-51 rout of rival Gonzaga in the championship game. SMC has won 18 of its last 19 games overall, improving to 26-7 on the season.
Under head coach Randy Bennett, the Gaels are known for their methodical offensive tempo and stifling defense. Saint Mary’s allows just 58.7 points per game, the second-lowest mark in Division I. They rank 15th in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom.
Congratulations Randy Bennett and @saintmaryshoops 🙌
2️⃣ years in a row! #WCChoops pic.twitter.com/P17bJ5NXQI
— WCC Basketball (@WCChoops) March 20, 2024
Offensively, the Gaels make opponents defend deep into the shot clock, ranking 357th out of 363 teams in adjusted tempo. Saint Mary’s has a balanced attack with five players averaging double-figure points, led by sophomore guard Aidan Mahaney at 13.9 per game.
Junior point guard Augustas Marciulionis, son of Hall of Famer Sarunas, chips in 12.4 points and 5.2 assists per contest. Senior center Mitchell Saxen (11.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg) patrols the paint, while senior Alex Ducas (10.1 ppg) is a 44.2% three-point shooter.
The Gaels are 18-14 against the spread this season, though just 2-4 ATS on neutral floors. They have covered in eight of their last ten games overall, beating the number by an average of 6.5 points in that span. Saint Mary’s is 14-14 ATS as a favorite this year. Like Grand Canyon, the over is 17-15 in their games.
Grand Canyon vs Saint Mary’s Player Props
Player props are readily available for the Grand Canyon vs Saint Mary’s showdown, with Tyon Grant-Foster sporting the largest point total on the board at 17.5. Mitchell Saxen has the highest rebound total at 7.5, with the juice favoring his “over.”
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three-Pointers Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyon Grant-Foster | 17.5 (O Even | U -140) | 5.5 (O -115 | U -125) | 1.5 (O -120 | U -120) | 1.5 (O -160 | U +110) |
| Aidan Mahaney | 14.5 (O -120 | U -120) | 3.5 (O Even | U -140) | 2.5 (O -105 | U -135) | 1.5 (O +165 | U 09Z-) |
| Mitchell Saxen | 13.5 (O -120 | U -120) | 7.5 (O -125 | U -115) | 1.5 (O -120 | U -120) | 2.5 (O Even | U -140) |
| Ray Harrison | 13.5 (O -110 | U -130) | 2.5 (O -185 P+ | U +130) | 3.5 (O -105 | U -135) | OFF |
| Augustas Marciulionis | 13.5 (O -115 | U -125) | 3.5 (O -115 | U -125) | 5.5 (O Even | U -140) | 1.5 (O +160 | U otz-) |
| Alex Ducas | 10.5 (O -115 P+ | U -125) | 6.5 (O -150 | U +105) | 1.5 (O -160 | U +110) | 0.5 (O -250 P+ | U +165) |
College basketball player props as of March 21st, at ESPN Bet.
Grand Canyon vs Saint Mary’s Prediction
This 5-12 matchup has all the ingredients for a March Madness classic. Grand Canyon’s elite scorer, Tyon Grant-Foster, will be the best player on the floor.
The Lopes’ up-tempo style and ability to get out in transition could cause problems for the slow-paced Gaels, especially if GCU can get to the free-throw line. The Lopes rank 7th in the country in free-throw attempts per game (25.2), a massive advantage over Saint Mary’s, which is tied for 285th (16.9).
However, the Gaels are battle-tested, having navigated the WCC gauntlet. Furthermore, they have the requisite March experience, as this is their third straight trip to the Big Dance. Their pack-line defense is designed to limit dribble penetration and will aim to keep Grant-Foster out of the lane.
Ultimately, this feels like a toss-up game that will come down to the final few possessions. The Gaels’ poise and cohesion may be just enough to narrowly escape the upset bid. The pick is Saint Mary’s to win but Grand Canyon to cover the 5.5-point spread in a lower-scoring affair.
GSC vs SMU Picks:
- Grand Canyon (-115)
- Under 131.5 (-110)
The Grand Canyon Antelopes and the Saint Mary’s Gaels are set to face off on March 22nd in what promises to be an exciting matchup. Both teams have had successful seasons so far, but how do they stack up against each other? Let’s take a closer look at the prediction, odds, and player props for this upcoming game.
Prediction:
The Grand Canyon Antelopes come into this game with a record of 17-6, while the Saint Mary’s Gaels have a record of 14-9. Both teams have shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season, but the Antelopes have been more consistent overall. With their strong defense and balanced scoring attack, Grand Canyon is favored to come out on top in this matchup. However, the Gaels are known for their tenacity and ability to pull off upsets, so this game could go either way.
Odds:
According to the latest odds, the Grand Canyon Antelopes are favored to win this game by a slim margin. The odds currently stand at -110 for the Antelopes and +110 for the Gaels. This means that a $110 bet on Grand Canyon would net you $100 in winnings, while a $100 bet on Saint Mary’s would net you $110 in winnings. The odds are close, indicating that this should be a tightly contested game.
Player Props:
When it comes to player props, there are a few key players to keep an eye on in this matchup. For the Grand Canyon Antelopes, look out for guard Jovan Blacksher Jr., who leads the team in scoring and assists. He will be crucial in setting the tone for the Antelopes’ offense. On the other side, forward Matthias Tass is a key player for the Saint Mary’s Gaels, leading the team in scoring and rebounding. His performance will be essential to the Gaels’ success in this game.
Overall, this matchup between the Grand Canyon Antelopes and the Saint Mary’s Gaels promises to be an exciting one. With both teams fighting for a spot in the next round of the tournament, expect a hard-fought battle with plenty of drama and excitement. Keep an eye on the prediction, odds, and player props to stay informed on what to expect in this highly anticipated game.
