Two defensive teams will square off in the first round of the 2023 NCAA tournament this Friday when the St. Mary’s Gaels and the VCU Rams meet head-to-head. Check out our preview of this St. Mary’s vs VCU matchup in the 2023 March Madness. There are more college basketball previews to read here at TopBet, so feel free to look around and make bets on the NCAA tournament once you’re ready.
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Betting Preview for the St. Mary’s Gaels vs VCU Rams NCAA College Basketball Game on March 17 2023
Where: MVP Arena, Albany, NY
When: Friday, March 17, 2023, 8:00 PM ET
Line: St. Mary’s Gaels (-4.0) vs. VCU Rams (+4.0) – view all 2023 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the St. Mary’s Gaels (-4.0)
Record: 26-7 Overall/14-2 Conference
The Gaels missed out on a chance to win the WCC tournament, as they lost in the finals to the Gonzaga Bulldogs. 77-51. While that defeat was ugly, the season, as a whole, of St. Mary’s has been fantastic overall. The Gaels turned heads with their defense that is ranked eighth nationally by KenPom in terms of adjusted defensive efficiency with just 91.6 points allowed per 100 possessions. It must also be noted that this is a team that went toe to toe against the Houston Cougars back in a 53-48 loss in December. The Gaels are also allowing only 60.0 points per game and limit opponents to just 46.7 eFG%.
Saint Mary’s is 12-1 against the spread in its last 13 games after a loss.
Betting on the VCU Rams (+4.0)
Record: 27-7 Overall/15-3 Conference
After winning the regular-season title and the conference tournament of the Atlantic-10, the Rams are ready for the big show AKA the Big Dance. Like the Gaels, VCU brandishes a scary defense – an elite one. KenPom has VCU’s defense 17th in Division I basketball with only 94.1 points allowed per 100 possessions and 31st with a defensive effective field goal percentage of 47.0. The Rams’ swarming defense is causing opponents to turn the ball over 24.1 percent of the time, which is the sixth-highest in the nation. Adrian Baldwin Jr. and Brandon Johns Jr. are the two guys VCU will look to carry the team. Baldwin and Johns are averaging 12.7 and 11.8 points per game, respectively.
VCU is 3-0-1 against the spread in its last four neutral site games.
Writer’s Prediction
St. Mary’s wins, 63-60.
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