It will be a battle between WCC opponents when the Saint Mary’s Gaels (9-7, 0-1 WCC) welcome the BYU Cougars (9-7, 1-0 WCC) to McKeon Pavilion. The game can be seen on ESPN2 at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 5, 2019.
BYU Cougars at Saint Mary’s Gaels Betting Prediction
In the Cougars’ last matchup, they were defeated by the No. 7 Nevada Wolf Pack, 86-70. Getting to the free throw line was one of Nevada’s largest strengths. They made 39 trips to the line, while BYU went just 19 times. Yoeli Childs played well for BYU, finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
The Gaels won big over the McNeese State Cowboys in their last game, 87-65. The Gaels had a much better turnover percentage (7.1 vs. 16.8) and had a better free throw rate (0.167 vs. 0.119). With 19 points and 12 rebounds, Malik Fitts had a solid game for Saint Mary’s.
After the Gaels won two out of three contests against the Cougars last season, these teams will battle for the first time this year. In the most recent contest, BYU won 85-72. The Cougars made 14 of their 16 free throws (87.5 percent) and had a much better turnover percentage (8.9 vs. 14.2).
Both teams have had a player step their game up over their last five games. Childs (0 points) has been stellar for the Cougars while Jordan Ford (0 points) has made solid contributions to the Gaels.
The prolific offense of Saint Mary’s will clash against the bottom-tier defense of BYU. The Gaels rank 25th in offensive efficiency, while the Cougars are 255th in defensive efficiency. The Gaels should have the advantage on that side of the ball. Opposite paces will be on display in this showdown. The up-tempo Cougars rank 25th in possessions per game, while the more half-court oriented Gaels rank 326th.
BYU vs. Saint Mary’s Free Pick
Pick: SU Winner – Saint Mary’s, ATS Winner – BYU, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes:
Saint Mary’s ranks 19th in rebounds allowed per game (30.5) while BYU ranks 223rd (38.4).
The Cougars rank 37th in assists per game (16.4) while the Gaels rank 198th (11.8).
Saint Mary’s ranks 10th in three pointers allowed per game (17.8) while BYU ranks 152nd (23.3).
The Gaels rank 13th in steals allowed per game (4.7) while the Cougars rank 72nd (5.9).
BYU ranks 49th in blocks allowed per game (2.8) while Saint Mary’s ranks 76th (3.3).
Bettings Trends:
The Cougars’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 14.0, up from 5.6 for the season.
During their last five games, the Gaels have scored an average of 74.4 points per game (2.6 below their season average) and allowed an average of 65.4 points per game (1.2 below their season average).
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