Vanderbilt vs Saint Mary’s Betting Preview
Sportsmemo college basketball analyst Kyle Kargel gives his Vanderbilt vs Saint Mary’s betting preview coming from the Anaheim Convention Center. The Commodores have won two straight not to be outdone by the Gaels who haven’t lost a game yet heading into this matchup.
Check out our College Basketball Free Picks page for betting thoughts from some of the country’s top handicappers.
Vanderbilt vs Saint Mary’s Betting Odds
Wednesday, November 23 | College Basketball Betting Notes |
---|---|
Point Spread: | Vanderbilt Commodores +8.5 vs Saint Mary’s Gaels |
Total: | 126 Points |
Game Time: | 11:59pm ET / 8:59pm PT |
Arena: | Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA (Odds Above by DraftKings) |
TV: | ESPN2 |
Vanderbilt vs Saint Mary’s Analysis
In the second game of the Paycom Wooden Legacy tournament tonight, Saint Mary’s takes on Vanderbilt with the Gaels heading in at 5-0.
The Commodores have picked it up as of late dropping their first two games to start the season but winning their last two against Temple and Morehead State. They advanced all the way to the quarterfinals of the NIT last season but lost to Xavier.
Saint Mary’s advanced to the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament last season losing to UCLA. None of their five wins this season have come by less than eight points. Saint Mary’s is favored by nine to win this won. Let’s see if they can get the job done.
Commodores Can’t Make Free Throws
The Commodores come into this game ranked in the kenpom top 75 teams so far much in part to their adjusted offense and defense efficiency which they rank in the top 90 in both.
They play at a relatively slow pace which is okay but they must improve their free throw shooting if they want any type of success this season, especially in close games.
They shoot a dismal 50% from the free throw line as a team so far which is dead last out of 362 teams! Senior guard Jordan Wright leads the Commodores in averaging a team high 11.3 ppg as well as adding 5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
X-factor for Vanderbilt is 7-foot forward Liam Robbins who is playing for his third school in five years with stints at Drake and Minnesota before transferring to Vanderbilt before last season. He averages 9 points, 3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game on 60% shooting from the field.
Saint Mary’s already has trouble scoring inside as it is, but with Robbins in the game, the Gaels may want to stay out of the paint on offense all together.
Saint Mary’s Solid Defense
Vanderbilt will be the toughest team Saint Mary’s has played so far this season but they won’t be phased. They have experience playing against top Power 5 schools including Notre Dame, Oregon and Wisconsin early last season going 2-1 in those games.
This season their defense is stout ranking 7th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency. You pair that with a team that ranks 10th offensively in 3pt field goal percentage and you’re going to have a hard time winning.
Especially when the team ranks 349th in adjusted tempo. If you go down by 10+ points to this team at any point in the game and it’s going to be tough to come back.
Junior Mitchell Saxen leads the charge down low for the Gaels averaging 12.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 53% from the field.
Senior Alex Ducas has been on with his 3pt shot so far this season going 17-30 from deep. He ranks in the top 100 among individual players in offensive rating and efficient field goal percentage.
Vanderbilt vs Saint Mary’s Prediction
Saint Mary’s is by far the toughest team Vanderbilt will have played this season and with this neutral court game being in California I fully expect the Gaels to have any type of home court advantage.
I think the battle down low between Robbins and Saxen down low will be interesting as well. Vanderbilt should fix some of their free throw shooting woes tonight and while I expect Saint Mary’s to win this game, Vanderbilt keeps it within single digits.
Prediction: Vanderbilt Commodores +8.5
Interested in placing a bet on tonight’s Vanderbilt vs Saint Mary’s contest? DraftKings is offering a $1,000 Deposit Bonus for first-time bettors in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, Michigan, Virginia, Wyoming and Arizona.
College Basketball Stat Sheet
GoldSheet prepares a daily college basketball stat sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Check out Wednesday’s sheet, with notes on tonight’s Vanderbilt vs Saint Mary’s contest.
Happy Hour Tip-Off Show
Get your daily fix of college hoops betting information with Joe Raineri and a rotating panel of handicapping guests.
The Happy Hour Tip-Off Show will broadcast Monday through Friday at 1:45pm ET / 10:45am PT. Pull up a barstool and join us as we break down tonight’s college basketball card, including this Vanderbilt vs Saint Mary’s clash, from a sports betting perspective.
College Basketball Odds Screen
Sportsmemo’s live odds screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books.
Track the college basketball point spreads, moneylines, first half lines and betting percentages for all of Friday’s college basketball games, including this Vanderbilt vs Saint Mary’s showdown, from your desktop or phone.
**************************************************
Looking for more free sports picks and sports betting tips?
- Latest Betting Odds and Public Action: Live odds updated in real time, including who the public is betting on.
- Last Minute Handicapping Advice: Check out our extensive library of handicapping tips to help you become a better sports bettor. Wee also recommend browsing through our sports betting tips video library.
- Want an expert opinion? Check out the latest Free Sports Picks and Best Bets from our team of expert sports handicappers.
Make sure to bookmark all the above!