Saint Mary's at Pepperdine odds, picks and predictions
The Saint Mary's Gaels (23-6, 14-0 West Coast) and Pepperdine Waves (12-18, 5-10) meet Thursday at Firestone Fieldhouse. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Saint Mary's vs. Pepperdine odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The Gaels won for the 15th consecutive victory against San Diego Saturday, posting an 88-62 win as 23.5-point favorites as the Over (137) connected. SMC has won all 7 true road games this season while covering the past 5 tries away from home.
The Over has hit in the past 3 games for Saint Mary's, but the Under is 3-0 in the past 3 road outings while going 4-1 in the past 5 tries.
The Waves are looking to avenge a 103-59 loss in Moraga Feb. 15 as 19-point underdogs as the Over (133) connected. Pepperdine has won just 3 times in the past 11 outings, although it is 4-2 ATS.
The Over has connected in 4 in a row for Pepperdine while going 6-1 across the past 7 outings.
Saint Mary's is No. 17 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll.
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Saint Mary's at Pepperdine odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:50 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Saint Mary's -2100 (bet $2,100 to win $100) | Pepperdine +1000 (bet $100 to win $1,000)
- Against the spread: Saint Mary's -15.5 (-114) | Pepperdine +15.5 (-106)
- Over/Under (O/U): 136.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Saint Mary's at Pepperdine picks and predictions
Prediction
Saint Mary's 89, Pepperdine 66
Moneyline
Saint Mary's (-2100) will cost you 21 times your potential return, and that's obviously way too much risk for not enough reward. If you back the Gaels straight up, you would need to risk $100 just to make $4.76 in profit. That is never a recommended betting strategy, no matter how certain a victory might seem.
PASS.
Against the spread
SAINT MARY'S -15.5 (-114) is worth playing, although this is a big number on the road.
Still, the Gaels have covered 5 of the past 6 games, including 4 in a row as double-digit favorites. Saint Mary's is 6-2 ATS in the past 8 tries when favored by 10 or more points, too.
On the flip side, Pepperdine +15.5 (-106) has failed to cover in all 6 instances this season as a double-digit 'dog and has gone 4-7 ATS in the past 11 outings dating back to Jan. 18.
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Over/Under
OVER 136.5 (-110) might be worth the best play on the board.
The Gaels rolled up 103 points in the 1st meeting with the Waves just 2 weeks ago in Moraga, the only time Pepperdine allowed triple digits all season.
The Over has cashed in 4 in a row, and 6 of the past 7 games, for Pepperdine. That includes the 1st meeting with Saint Mary's.
The Over has cashed in 3 in a row for the Gaels, too, while going 11-6 across the previous 17 outings dating back to Dec. 21.
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