Top NCAAB Pick: Gonzaga -8 (-108) at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
Everything sets up for another St. Mary’s-Gonzaga matchup in the West Coast Conference Championship, but the Gaels and Bulldogs first have to get past their semifinal clashes on Monday when our free NCAAB picks begin with a Big Sky battle between Montana State and Weber State.
Let’s analyze tonight’s action armed with our NCAAB odds and identify our best plays at the top-rated sportsbooks.
Montana State Bobcats vs. Weber State Wildcats
Monday, March 11, 2024 – 07:30 PM ET at Idaho Central Arena
Channeling Yogi Berra for college basketball? Sure, after all, it is like déjà vu all over again with this quick rematch between Montana State and Weber State in the quarterfinals of the Big Sky Conference tournament.
Rubber Clash Between the ‘Cats
This is the second day of the conference quarterfinals, and top sportsbooks are favoring Weber State by 6 in the third matchup of the season between the Bobcats and Wildcats.
There aren’t too many rematches that come quicker. The Bobcats just beat the Wildcats last Monday on Bozeman in the regular season finale for both teams, pulling off a 76-64 upset in a contest that saw Weber State close -5 after opening with half that spread.
Montana State trailed by 8 midway through the second half before going on a 12-0 run as the Wildcats were blanked for nearly 5 minutes.
Weber State had an easy time when the teams met in Ogden back in late-December. The 86-64 final nearly doubled-up the 11½-point spread the Wildcats carried, and Dillon Jones led the way with his own double-double (29 pts, 13 reb) while adding 6 assists and 4 steals.
Winner Gets Sacramento State on Tuesday
Montana State is trying to win its third consecutive Big Sky Tournament, taking out Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado, respectively, in the last two championship games. In each tourney, the Bobcats beat the Wildcats in the semis.
This tourney has been unkind to higher seeds. It makes the +6 on Montana State an inviting play. Still, I’ll be betting the NCAAB odds to stay ‘under’ the mark.
NCAAB Pick: Under 142½ (-108) at Heritage Sports
Santa Clara Broncos vs. Saint Mary’s Gaels
Monday, March 11, 2024 – 09:00 PM ET at Orleans Arena
Santa Clara hopes the third time’s the charm against Saint Mary’s as the West Coast Conference reaches its semifinals in Las Vegas. Heritage Sports doesn’t seem to like the Broncos’ chances with -9 hung on the Gaels.
Broncs Sloppy on Saturday
After dropping two of their last three regular-season games, the Broncos scored a 104-79 win on Saturday against San Diego in the quarterfinals this last Saturday, dominating the glass to cover the 11½ despite committing 20 turnovers.
Saint Mary’s will be taking the floor for the first time since losing 70-57 to Gonzaga in the regular season finale nine days ago. It was the first and only WCC loss of the season for the Gaels, who were favored by 3½.
Gaels Have Won Last 5 Meetings
Saint Mary’s won both regular season matchups, which took place 13 days apart during the second half of January. The Gaels had an easier time of things in Santa Clara. They were favored by 6½ in a 73-49 final than their 82-77 win at home giving up 13½.
These two squared off in the semis of the 2022 WCC Tournament. Saint Mary’s withstood a late push from Santa Clara in a 75-72 victory. Give me the points.
NCAAB Pick: Santa Clara -9 (-108) at Heritage Sports
San Francisco Dons vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs
Monday, March 11, 2024 – 11:30 PM ET at Orleans Arena
Monday’s college basketball betting card fittingly ends in Las Vegas where San Francisco and Gonzaga collide. The Bulldogs are favored by 8 with 149 for the total.
‘Zags 73-22 All-Time in Series
San Francisco hosted Gonzaga less than two weeks ago on Leap Day. For the 29th straight time, the Bulldogs came away with the dubya thanks to a big second half in the 86-68 final. Gonzaga was favored by 3½-4 and got a game-best 26 from junior forward Graham Ike.
Ike had 22 in the 77-72 win when the clubs met in Spokane, back in January. That contest was knotted 48-all midway through the second half before Gonzaga managed to gain the advantage, though it wasn’t enough to cover the 9-point spread.
This is the 3rd-straight WCC Tournament for the Dons and Bulldogs to meet in the semifinals. Gonzaga won the previous two contests, but San Francisco covered while the finals came up short of the numbers. They also met in the 2020 semis just before the pandemic arrived.
Dons Cover 4 of Their Last 6
The Dons came out on fire this past Saturday in a 72-51 pasting of Portland to reach the semifinals. San Francisco led wire-to-wire, having the 15½-point spread covered 12 minutes into the contest and keeping the Pilots at bay from that point on.
That 29-game skid San Francisco carries into this rivalry is a heavy, heavy load. Even though this is not a great Gonzaga team, I expect the Bulldogs to cover when they make it 30 in a row over the Dons.
NCAAB Pick: Gonzaga -8 (-108) at Heritage Sports
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
Calculators
