The 2023 NCAA Tournament continues on Friday with a showdown between two of the nation’s best defensive teams: No. 12 Virginia Commonwealth University and No. 5 Saint Mary’s.
VCU took home both the regular season and tournament crowns in the Atlantic 10, while Saint Mary’s finished second in the West Coast Conference after falling to Gonzaga in the conference tournament final.
Read on for my Saint Mary’s vs VCU prediction and best bets.
Saint Mary’s vs VCU Odds
Note: CBB odds mentioned in this article for Saint Mary’s vs VCU were used from DraftKings Sportsbook, unless otherwise noted, and are current as of Tuesday, March 14, at noon ET.
- Moneyline: Saint Mary’s (-190) | VCU (+160)
- Spread: Saint Mary’s -4 (-110) | VCU +4 (-110)
- Over/Under: Over 123 (-105) | Under 123 (-115)
Saint Mary’s vs VCU Best Bet
Keep reading for more Saint Mary’s vs VCU betting tips.
Saint Mary’s vs VCU Prediction
VCU 62, Saint Mary’s 59
I believe the Rams will eke out a slim victory over the Gaels on Friday to keep their winning streak alive. VCU makes life difficult for their opponents and stifles offenses better than Saint Mary’s.
📈 Keep track of NCAA Tournament winner odds to find our best March Madness bets:
Saint Mary’s vs VCU Best Bets
Under 123 Total Points (-115) | DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Both programs play at a snail’s pace and feature some of the most robust defenses in the nation. The total is set low at 123, but I feel it’s still too high.
Both teams play slow and deliberate basketball on offense and stifling defense on the other end. Expect them to play to their strengths and slow this game to a crawl.
VCU +4 (-110) | DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Gaels are my favorite upset candidate for Friday’s games, as their offense does not match up well against the Rams. Saint Mary’s will focus on their two guards to handle things on offense, which plays right into VCU’s biggest strength.
Saint Mary’s vs VCU Same Game Parlay
Saint Mary’s vs VCU SGP (+250) | DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
- VCU ML (+145)
- Saint Mary’s Under 60.5 Points (+145)
As previously mentioned, I like VCU to upset Saint Mary’s via stifling defense and by controlling the pace of this game. The Gaels will struggle to score and could fall below 60 points in this matchup.
