A meeting between a conference Goliath and David is on tap this Saturday, when the Saint Mary’s Gaels pay the Portland Pilots a visit for an intriguing West Coast conference matchup. Read on for a preview of this game below. Register to bet and wager with your pick.
Betting Preview for the St Mary’s Gaels vs Portland Pilots College Basketball Game on February 17, 2018
Where: Earle A. Chiles Center
When: Saturday, February 17, 10:00PM EST
Line: St Mary’s Gaels () vs Portland Pilots ()–view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ATSN
Betting on the St Mary’s Gaels (24-3)
The Gaels have no reason to Portland. The two teams are galaxies apart in terms of RPI; the Gaels are ranked 33rd while the Pilots are 249th. We’ve already seen what would happen of the two teams played together, when the Gaels crushed Portland on Jan. 27 at home, 72-55. Saint Mary’s had their way against Portland, as the Gaels shot 47.1 percent from the field, including a 12-for-23 (52.2%) line from the three-point area.
The Gaels’ superior defense held Portland to only 36.7 percent shooting, which was a normal thing for St. Mary’s opponents to experience. The Gaels are 16th in the nation defensively with only 64.6 points allowed per outing.
Saint Mary’s is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 road games.
Betting on the Portland Pilots (10-17)
Unfortunately for the Portland Pilots, Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum are not playing for them. The Pilots could have used the Portland Trail Blazers’ duo’s scoring, as they are mustering just 66.9 points per game, which would not be enough for them to compensate a faulty defense that allows 75.7 points per contest. But if the Pilots will have any semblance of competitiveness against Saint Mary’s this Saturday, they will need Josh McSwiggan to avoid laying another goose egg.
McSwiggan is second on the team in scoring with 11.3 points per game, but had zero points on 0-for-5 shooting from the field in 24 minutes of action in the first meeting with the Gaels. Marcus Shaver Jr. leads Portland with 11.6 points per game. He scored 12 points against Saint Mary’s last January.
Portland is 2-0-1 ATS in its last three home games.
Writer’s Prediction:
No surprises here. Saint Mary’s destroys Portland, 75-58.
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