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Charlie Grant
St. Mary’s vs. Villanova Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
Villanova begins its national championship defence in a Round of 64 matchup against the WCC conference tournament winner Saint Mary’s. The Wildcats are Big East tourney champs again for a third straight year – the first time in conference history a team has done so – and they are seeking their third national title in four years.
St. Mary’s (11) vs. Villanova (6) NCAA Tournament Point Spread and Betting
Jay Wright’s group opened as a 5-point favourite against the Gaels and the sixth seed in the South Region. Villanova took down Providence, Xavier and Seton Hall to win the Big East tournament, but it failed to cover the spread in two of those games.
The Wildcats obviously have done well in the Big Dance in recent years. They’re 13-3 against the spread in their last 16 NCAA Tournament games and they went 8-5 ATS against non-conference opponents this season.
Saint Mary’s pulled off in improbable outright win over Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference tournament final as a 15-point underdog. The Gaels enter the NCAA Tournament on an 8-2 run with the lone setbacks coming at the hands of the Zags (both during the regular season).
The squad went just 2-4 against the number when pitted as an underdog this season, but went 10-5 ATS in non-conference matchups. The under is 8-1 the Gaels’ last nine games and 19-13 on the campaign overall.
St. Mary’s Gaels
Coach Randy Bennett’s side were on pace to finish with the program’s worst record since the 2004. But an undefeated run in the WCC conference tournament saved the season. The Gaels failed to qualify for the Tournament last year despite a 30-5 record. Now they’re dancing with a more modest mark (22-11), but as West Coast tournament champions.
Saint Mary’s boasts an inside/outside attack with junior guard Jordan Ford and sophomore forward Malik Fitts. The pair scored a combined 40 points in the WCC semifinal win over San Diego.
Villanova Wildcats
Villanova’s seeding isn’t great for a reigning conference regular season, conference tournament and national champion, but it’s not unexpected either. The Big East ate its own during during the conference schedule, and the selection committee award it with just four slots in the Big Dance.
The Wildcats lost their four-leading scorers from last season but Phil Booth (18.6 points per game) and Eric Paschall (16.5 ppg) have stepped in their senior years on campus.
