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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Pete Fiutak

Gonzaga vs Saint Mary’s Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview

Gonzaga vs Saint Mary’s prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Saturday, February 4


Gonzaga vs Saint Mary’s How To Watch

Date: Saturday, February 4
Game Time: 10:30 pm ET
Venue: University Credit Union Pavilion, Moraga, CA
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Gonzaga (19-4), Saint Mary’s (20-4)
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Coaches Poll,
All-Time College Basketball Rankings
College Football All-Time Rankings Coaches Poll | AP Poll
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Gonzaga vs Saint Mary’s Game Preview

Why Gonzaga Will Win

Saint Mary’s doesn’t score like it’ll need to.

Gonzaga might not be the high-octane powerhouse of previous seasons – it can stall out once in a while – but it’s still No. 1 in the nation averaging over 86 points per game.

It’s amazingly efficient at generating points inside and out, it doesn’t make a ton of mistakes, and it’s amazing putting a game away once it gets on a roll.

Saint Mary’s has the size, the rebounding ability, and the three point shooting to make it a fight as long as the defense does its job.

This can’t get into the 80s, or forget it. However …

Why Saint Mary’s Will Win

The Gaels are on a roll for a reason.

They’ve won 11 straight on its defense. It does a nice job of forcing mistakes, but where it thrives is keeping teams from coming up with easy second chance points.

Forget anything in transition – it’s all about keeping games under control. Rely on the offense working for the extra shot, count on hitting at least 35% from three, and assume they can hang on the glass enough to make the Bulldogs fight.

That, and …

What’s Going To Happen

Saint Mary’s knows how to battle this team in Moraga.

At least it did last year.

Gonzaga was held in check in a stunning 67-57 road loss to the Gaels last season. That was only one of three matchups – the Bulldogs won the other two – but they weren’t track meets.

The defense that allows teams to hit just under 40% from the field has to play out of its mind. Three of Gonzaga’s four losses came when it was kept under 45%, and Saint Mary’s is about to slow this down and muck it up to do just that.

Gonzaga vs Saint Mary’s Prediction, Line

Saint Mary’s 69, Gonzaga 66
Line: Saint Mary’s -3.5, o/u: 137.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Must See Ranking: 4
CFN Fearless Predictions

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