Utah vs. Saint Mary’s Pick
Does top-seeded Saint Mary’s have what it takes to hold off second-seeded Utah when the two meet in the NIT Tournament quarterfinals tonight at 10PM ET?
GAME SNAPSHOT
NIT Tournament: (767) Utah vs. (768) Saint Mary’s
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Location: McKeon Pavilion, Morgan, California
TV: ESPN2, 10PM ET
CURRENT ODDS
According to oddsmakers at YouWager, Saint Mary’s is the favorite in this game, as the Gaels are getting odds of -6.5 points against Utah. The over/under total is currently listed at 140.5 points.
LINE MOVEMENT
The spread opened up with St. Mary’s as a 6-point favorite. The spread hit a peak of 7 points before dropping back between the two points. The over/under total hasn’t changed since opening at 140.5 points.
Bet on College Basketball for Wednesday, March 21, 2018
PUBLIC BETTING INFORMATION
The public is backing Utah tonight. As of Wednesday afternoon, the Utes are getting 52 percent of the wagers on this game as an underdog against Saint Mary’s.
KEY INJURIES
Neither team has anyone listed on the injury report for tonight’s game.
BETTING STRATEGIES
St. Mary’s hasn’t left home for the NIT thus far, as it beat SE Louisiana 89-45 and then topped Washington, 85-81. The Gaels failed to cover in the win over the Huskies. Utah has been at home as well, defeating UC-Davis 69-59 and then topping LSU 95-71. The Utes covered in the win over the Tigers, but failed to cover a 12.5-point spread against UC-Davis.
Both teams are similar in styles as each has a solid defense with an offense that has potential. The Gaels average 77.5 per game on offense while holding opponents to 64.4 per game. At home, it allows just 60.9 per contest. Utah is putting up 74 points per game on offense while allowing 68.5. However, on the road, Utah is putting up just 68.4 on offense and allowing 71.9.
The Gaels haven’t been covering as of late, going just 2-7 ATS in their last nine. Still, they have the home-court advantage against a team that hasn’t played a true road game in weeks. Utah hasn’t been the same team on the road and is 6-7-1 ATS on the road this season. I think St. Mary’s has enough shooting (51 percent from the field) to cover against the Utes.
NIT TOURNAMENT PREDICTIONS: SAINT MARY’S -6