VCU Rams vs Saint Mary’s Gaels 3/17/2023 Picks Predictions Previews
The no.12 Virginia Community University Rams (A-10) travel to New York toward MVP Arena in Albany to face off with the 5th-ranked Saint Mary’s Gaels (WCC) in the Men’s Basketball Championship West Region- First Round on Friday afternoon.
VCU enters the Big Dance after finishing the regular season as the top team in the Atlantic 10 Conference with a 27-7 overall record and 15-3 in conference play.
The Rams come into this competition after winning nine games in a row including the 12-point victory over the Dayton Flyers at 68-56 in the Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship match.
VCU played tough defense limiting Dayton to just 56 points at 32.1% FG while pushing the Flyers to commit 8 turnovers.
The Rams featured a strong offense scoring 68 points in shooting 46.2% from the field and pumping in 47.1% from the long-range.
Guard Adrian Baldwin Jr. scored an average of 12.6 PPG on 41.7% FG while dishing out an average of 5.8 assists in leading VCU’s offense.
Forward Brandon Johns Jr. from Michigan is the second leading scorer of the Rams with an average of 11.9 PPG as the only other player in double-digit scoring.
Forward Jamir Watkins pitched in with an average of 9.5 PPG while Forward Jalen DeLoach grabbed a team-leading 6.9 rebounds per outing and added an average of 9.9 PPG for VCU.
The totals went UNDER in 10 of the Rams’ last 14 matches while VCU is 7-1 against the spread in its last 8 outings.
The VCU Rams are 9-0 straight up in their last 9 games played and Virginia Community University is 5-1 SU in its last 6 contests played in March.
More College Basketball Picks Predictions Previews
Chat with our Live Handicapper to Know More about the Game.
VCU Rams vs Saint Mary’s Gaels Predictions 3/17/2023
The 5th-ranked Saint Mary’s Gaels will be hitting the hardcourt in the Big Dance after ending the regular season with a 26-7 overall record and tied with the Gonzaga Bulldogs in first place in the West Coast Conference.
Saint Mary’s surrendered to Gonzaga in the recent West Coast Conference Tournament Championship game to a final score of 51-77 on March 7.
Senior Guard Logan Johnson scored 20 points on 43.7% shooting while Senior Guard Alex Ducas pulled down 7 rebounds and dispensed 3 assists in leading the Gaels in the losing effort.
The offense for Saint Mary’s scored just 51 points on 33.3% FG and 73.3% from the stripe while defensively, the Gaels gave up 77 points on 58% shooting and 57.1% from downtown.
Senior Guard Logan Johnson is the leading scorer for Saint Mary’s with an average of 14.7 PPG in shooting 46.0% from the field while dishing out an average of 3.7 assists for the season.
Guard Aidan Mahaney is the next leading scorer averaging 14.5 PPG while Guard Alex Ducas scored an average of 12.5 PPG for the Gaels.
The mammoth Center Mitchell Saxen led the rebounding for Saint Mary’s with an average of 7.8 rebounds per match while scoring fourth best average of 11.6 PPG.
The totals went OVER in 6 of the Gaels’ last 9 outings while Saint Mary’s-California is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 matches played.
The Saint Mary’s Gaels are 17-3 straight up in their last 20 games played and 5-2 against the spread in their last 7 contests played versus a rival in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
No.12 VCU Rams vs. no.5 Saint Mary’s Gaels. The NCAAB Pick for this contest is Saint Mary’s -3.
Despite winning nine consecutive games, the Rams will be losing the tournament to the Gaels who will be dominating the game on both sides of the court as the more talented team.
Saint Mary’s will be taking control of the board by 37.0 to 29.0 rebounds per match and the FG shooting by 55.56% to 44.62%. The prediction: Saint Mary’s Gaels will win 75-67.
College Basketball Free Premium Picks Predictions. This week’s entire college basketball premium pick predictions against the spread are free right now at 1-888-711-4311 or text the word WINBIG to 760-670-3130 to receive them. Included are Best Bets, Parlays and Halftime winners for this week free of charge.
VCU Rams vs Saint Mary’s Gaels 3/17/2023 Picks Predictions Previews
NCAAB Starting Time: 2:00 PM ET
Location: MVP Arena in Albany, NY
Date: Friday, March 17, 2023
TV: TBS
NCAAB Odds/Point Spread: Saint Mary’s Gaels -3
NCAAB Totals: 122.5