Prediction, Odds, and Best Bet for the MAAC Title Game between Iona and Mount St. Mary’s

• Fourth-seeded Iona (17-16) meets sixth-seeded Mount St. Mary (21-12) for the MAAC Tournament title Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

• Iona is the favorite after beating the Mountainers in overtime in the regular season.

• I am the MAAC daddy with a preview, prediction and look at best bets for the MAAC Tournament title game between Iona and Mount St. Mary’s.

Cinderella is knocking at the door as Iona (17-16, 20-13 ATS) takes on Mount St. Mary (21-12; 20-11-2) for an NCAA Tournament bid in the MAAC Tournament championship game in Atlantic City.

Mount St. Mary’s is seeking its first trip to the Big Dance since 2021, while Iona made it in 2023.

Check out our full preview and prediction of the MAAC Tournament title game with a look at the best odds.

Iona vs Mount St. Mary Prediction

The Mount is 10-3 since Jan. 31, the best record in the MAAC from that point. Their 21 wins is the most in school history since they moved to Division 1 in 1988.

The Mountaineers have four players averaging in double figures, led by Dola Adebayo (no relation to Bam) at 13.1. Sophomore guard Dallas Hobbs (hometown- Dallas) puts up 12.4.

Iona has won five games in row and has earned 14 conference titles in their history. They are led by senior guard Dejour Reaves. He’s the one who made the game-winner in the regular season meeting. He started his college career at Trinidad State, a school in Colorado, then transferred to Northern Colorado where he was an All-Big Sky pick. He scores 17.2 a game and is a career 35.3 percent shooter from deep.

Iona is 7-2 all-time against Mount, 5-1 since they became conference rivals.

The Gaels are coached by Tobin Anderson, who was at the helm of Fairleigh Dickinson back in 2023 when they beat No. 1 seed Purdue in the NCAA Tournament.

Iona has a statistical advantage, they are fourth in the nation in offensive rebounds and fifth in steals. However, the Mountaineers’ momentum has me predicting they will keep this very close, if not win outright.

Iona vs Mount St. Mary Best Bet

• Mount St. Mary +4.5 at DraftKings

• Under 133.5 at DraftKings

These two teams are eerily similar. They both score 70 points a game, and they both give up 70 points a game. When they played back at the Mount, Iona won by three points on a Dejour Reaves three at the buzzer, 70-67 (yes, 70). It was the Gaels first buzzer beater victory in 27 years.

Both teams tied for fourth in the MAAC along with Manhattan at 12-8 in the conference. Iona took down top seed Quinnipiac in the semis. They never trailed. Mount St. Mary beat Marist.

When a match-up seems so even, take the points where you can get them. I like the under because of the pressure to win to get into the NCAAs. This is the one shot.

Iona vs Mount St. Mary Odds

Iona has won five in a row. They started 2-8 and this is their record 21st appearance in a MAAC title game.

Mount is new. They’ve only been in the league for three years. They used to be in the Northeast Conference.

Odds from DraftKings on March 15. Get ready for March Madness with our best DraftKings promo code.

The Gaels are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games against the spread and 6-4 over/under. The Mount is 7-2-1 against the spread, but just 3-7 over/under.

The spread has some differences. It’s 3.5-points at FanDuel, four points at Caesars and 4.5 at DraftKings. The total is 134.5 at FanDuel and 133.5 everywhere else.

I found the best moneyline bet on Mount is +160 at DraftKings, for Iona its -170 at FanDuel.

The MAAC Title Game between Iona and Mount St. Mary’s is set to be an exciting matchup between two talented teams vying for the conference championship. Both teams have had successful seasons thus far, but only one will come out on top in this highly anticipated game.

Iona, led by head coach Rick Pitino, has been a dominant force in the MAAC this season. The Gaels have a strong offense, averaging over 75 points per game, and have been able to outscore their opponents consistently throughout the season. With players like Isaiah Ross and Asante Gist leading the way, Iona has the firepower to take down any team in the conference.

On the other hand, Mount St. Mary’s has also had a successful season under head coach Dan Engelstad. The Mountaineers have a tough defense that has stifled opponents all season long, allowing just over 60 points per game. With a balanced scoring attack led by Damian Chong Qui and Nana Opoku, Mount St. Mary’s has the ability to shut down Iona’s high-powered offense and control the pace of the game.

In terms of odds, Iona is currently favored to win the MAAC Title Game, with sportsbooks giving them a slight edge over Mount St. Mary’s. However, in a championship game anything can happen, and Mount St. Mary’s should not be counted out as they have proven themselves to be a tough opponent all season long.

As for the best bet for this game, it may be wise to consider the underdog in Mount St. Mary’s. With their strong defense and ability to control the pace of the game, they could potentially pull off an upset and come out on top in this championship matchup. However, Iona’s high-powered offense cannot be underestimated, so this game could truly go either way.

Overall, the MAAC Title Game between Iona and Mount St. Mary’s is shaping up to be a thrilling matchup between two talented teams. With both teams hungry for a conference championship, fans can expect a competitive and intense game that will surely come down to the wire. It will be interesting to see which team will come out on top and secure the MAAC title in what promises to be an exciting showdown.