Feb 25, 2023; Spokane, Washington, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs ahead Drew Timme (2) shoots the ball in opposition to St. Mary’s Gaels ahead Josh Jefferson (5) within the second half at McCarthey Athletic Middle. Gonzaga gained 77-68. Necessary Credit score: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports activities
- The WCC Event begins on Thursday, March 2nd in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Saint Mary’s is the number-one seed, however three-time defending champ Gonzaga has the shortest odds
- Try the most recent WCC Event odds, plus predictions and finest bets
For the final 14 years, the West Coast Convention has basically been a two horse race. Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s are the one two applications to win the WCC title throughout that stretch, and on-line sportsbooks anticipate the 2 convention powerhouses to be the final groups standing as soon as once more this 12 months.
The WCC Event tips-off on Thursday, March 2nd from The Orleans On line casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and also you’ll be onerous pressed to discover a ticket that isn’t backing the Bulldogs or Gales.
WCC Event Odds
| Participant | Odds |
|---|---|
| #2 Gonzaga | -115 |
| #1 Saint Mary’s | -105 |
| #3 Santa Clara | +5000 |
| #5 BYU | +5000 |
| #6 San Francisco | +10000 |
| #4 Loyola Marymount | +10000 |
| #10 Pepperdine | +50000 |
| #8 Portland | +50000 |
| #7 Pacific | +100000 |
| #9 San Diego | +100000 |
Gonzaga boasts the shortest worth to win the tourney at -115, adopted by Saint Mary’s at -105. The Gales earned the primary seed due to a greater NCAA Internet rating, however the Bulldogs boast shorter March Insanity odds and the next spot within the AP High-25 (10 vs 17).
Odds as of Feb. 28, 2023, at DraftKings Sportsbook.
WCC Event Format
Neither Gonzaga or Saint Mary’s will see motion till Monday. That’s as a result of the top-two seeds earn byes on to the semifinals. Seeds three and 4 are given byes into the quarters, whereas the fifth and sixth seeds get a free move into the second spherical.
That leaves seeds seven by 10 to do battle on the match’s opening night time. The second spherical suggestions off on Friday, March third, with the quarterfinals set for Saturday, March 4th. Semifinal motion will happen on Monday, March sixth, with the championship recreation set for Tuesday, March seventh.
2023 College Credit score Union #WCChoops Males’s Basketball Event bracket is about!
SEE YOU IN LAS VEGAS!
🎟: https://t.co/HlTlZagqrG
🗒: https://t.co/NESDpbfQJY pic.twitter.com/niOvPmmCns— West Coast Convention (@WCCsports) February 26, 2023
Regional networks will air the primary two rounds, with ESPN2 offering quarterfinal and semifinal protection. The championship recreation, which is anticipated to function the Bulldogs and Gaels, will get the total ESPN therapy.
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WCC Event Betting Developments
Gonzaga is the reigning three-time defending champ. They’ve gained the convention title in 11 of the previous 14 years, with Saint Mary’s enjoying spoiler in 2019, 2012 and 2010.
The 2 applications have met within the remaining in 10 of the previous 14 years, and 12 instances total since 2003. They’re the one two WCC groups to rank contained in the top-75 in KenPom’s total effectivity metrics, and each enter play red-hot, particularly the Bulldogs.
Gonzaga has gained six straight and 9 of 10. Every of their previous six victories have come by not less than seven factors, whereas three of the wins have been by 17 or extra factors.
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) February 26, 2023
Saint Mary’s alternatively, has gained 16 of 18. Their +12.3 common rating margin is the seventh finest within the nation, whereas solely three groups within the nation permit fewer factors per recreation (59.1).
Contemplating the shape and historic dominance of the WCC by the Bulldogs and Gaels, it’s not value attempting to peg a longshot to shock the school hoops world and win this match. A possible longshot would probably need to upset Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s on back-to-back nights, and that isn’t a practical proposition.
Loyola Marymount is the lone WCC program to beat each convention juggernauts this season. Oddsmakers don’t give LMU a lot of an opportunity given their +10000 price ticket, and the Bulldogs not too long ago avenged their loss to the Lions by pounding them 108-65.
WCC Event Predictions
Because it stands earlier than the match begins, Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s challenge as top-4 seeds within the March Insanity Bracket. The Bulldogs have been a primary seed 5 instances on the NCAA Event, however this 12 months’s program is being knocked for its underwhelming protection.
Gonzaga grades out 88th in adjusted defensive effectivity per KenPom. They rank 287th in scoring protection and 274th in opponent efficient discipline objective proportion.
Fortunately, their offense is sweet sufficient to cowl up these defensive warts. The Bulldogs are primary in adjusted offensive effectivity and factors per recreation. In addition they rank first in discipline objective proportion, and thirty third in three-point effectivity.
Gonzaga has scored not less than 88 factors in 5 of their final six video games, and are contemporary off avenging an early season loss to the Gaels of their newest outing.
Gonzaga vs Saint Mary’s Head-to-Head
| 25-5 | Report | 25-6 |
| 86.3 | Factors per Sport | 71.5 |
| 75.0 | Factors Towards per Sport | 59.1 |
| 57.9% | Efficient FG% | 52.8% |
| 52.2% | Opponent Efficient FG% | 45.9% |
We talked about earlier how robust Saint Mary’s protection is, however their offense isn’t in the identical league because the Bulldogs. The Gales have damaged the 80-point barrier solely twice of their final 13 video games, and managed solely 68 factors of their newest loss to the Zags.
Usually the Bulldogs are within the -300 vary or longer to win the WCC Event. Getting them at -115 is a steal. They’ve owned the convention during the last twenty years and simply asserted their dominance by beating their greatest rival.
Their type is implausible and their offense is the very best within the nation. Saint Mary’s is a professional risk, however you’ll get a lot worse odds on Gonzaga in case you wait till the championship recreation to wager on them.
Choose: Gonzaga Bulldogs (-115)
Chris Amberley
As SBD’s resident Swiss Military Knife, Chris covers nearly each sport together with NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A real grinder, he’d somewhat decide off small edges within the participant props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
