The final game of the First Round of the NCAA Tournament could be one of the best in the 12-5 matchup in the West Region. The Grand Canyon Antelopes are set to take on the Saint Mary’s Gaels and these teams look extremely even.
Grand Canyon is coming into this game with an overall record of 29-4, and they won the Western Athletic Conference this season. The Antelopes had little trouble winning their conference tournament, and that momentum will be huge.
Saint Mary’s won the West Coast Conference Tournament this season, and only lost one time since the calendar flipped to 2024. The Gaels are the number five seed for a reason, but they haven’t faced an extremely difficult schedule.
The betting odds for this game have the Gaels as 5.5-point betting favorites, and the over/under is set at 131.5 total points.
Antelopes Want to Run
Grand Canyon has scored at least 80 points in three of their last five games, and they are going to be pushing the tempo in this game. The Antelopes are scoring 79.8 points per game this season, and they have three players averaging at least 13 points per game.
One reason that Grand Canyon has been so far to guard this season is for the simple fact that they will take any shot. The Antelopes are led by Tyon Grant-Foster, but there are other players that will step up on offense.
Deense is still a major concern for this team at times, but that’s not how the Antelopes typically worry about winning games.
Gaels Will Play Slow
The Saint Mary’s Gaels are averaging 74.2 points per game this season, and that might make you think this team likes to push the ball. That is not correct at all, but Saint Mary’s is a tough team to defend.
This team will be taking a great shot on every single possession, and it’s Aidan Mahaney that leads the way with 13.9 points per game. Saint Mary’s has five players that are scoring at least 10 points per game, and that balance will be needed in this game.
The Gaels do not have the size or athleticism to keep pace with Grand Canyon, and they will need to slow down the game in order to win.
Grand Canyon Pulls Off Upset
Saint Mary’s has had a terrific season up to this point, and it wasn’t a surprise to see them given a number five seed. The Gaels are a team that has frustrated teams throughout the year, but it’s just too hard to slow down Grand Canyon.
There are a ton of scoring weapons on this Grand Canyon team, and they can put points on the board in a hurry. The Antelopes have proven that they can score on anyone, and they will be looking to put on a show in this game.
Don’t just take the 5.5 points, but also bet on Grand Canyon to come up with an upset win as they advance to the next round of the NCAA Tournament.
