NCAA Basketball WCC Bets takes a few risks as the West Coast Conference is not just Gonzaga’s for the taking. It is one of the conferences that is gaining notice from other teams. It is time for a WCC war between Saint Mary’s and Loyola Marymount. The Lions are home to the Gaels in a game starting after 9:00 pm ET. VegasBetting asks if it is Saint Mary’s night to not cover the spread. First, let’s take that closer look.
NCAA Basketball WCC Bets gives respect to Saint Mary’s as they rule the WCC right now. So, Randy Bennett fired up his Gaels team for the conference schedule. So far, Saint Mary’s has won ten straight to start this phase. That leaves them 15th in the nation with an overall record of 21-4. That includes a huge overtime win over Gonzaga at home over the weekend.
Now, the Gaels head out on the road for three straight games. Does the letdown game hit Saint Mary’s here? Loyola Marymount remains far from a slouch and is enjoying quite a campaign. The Gaels opened out to an eight-point favorite on Thursday night. That comes on the heels of that big win and a 12-game winning streak. Aidan Mahaney awoke at the right time to bail out the Gaels.
The Gaels grappled with a couple of big challenges, but nothing like facing Gonzaga. Even with the Bulldogs playing not as well as last year, Saint Mary’s needed overtime to triumph. Was that a bit of a kick in the pants? Yes. The balanced inside-outside attack suits the Gaels well. Mitchell Saxen thrives as a pivot playing the “4” or “5”. Additionally, the Junior Center provides matchup nightmares even for Loyola Marymount.
So, NCAA Basketball WCC Bets asks, given the closeness of the past few games, why go with the cover here? More importantly, the Gaels want to steal the show, but first, they must show how to win after the big game. Bovada Vegas Online Sportsbook carries better totals and solid odds too. Loyola may keep this close.
What about those who talked up Loyola Marymount in the NCAA Basketball WCC Bets? Just a few weeks ago, the Lions surprised Gonzaga on the road. It likely was rock bottom for the Bulldogs, but the high point for Loyola Marymount. The California school possibly became guilty of reading the headlines too much. Cameron Shelton suffered the lows after the highs. Between him and Keli Leaupepe, the Senior leadership sees an opportunity.
There is a sense that both teams could end up over 70 points on Thursday night. Points figure to come at less of a premium as Loyola attempts to push the pace at home. They are the team who has to try and catch up. Saint Mary’s has the cushion at 6-5 in the conference. The Lions possess little to no margin of error. Could that pressure backfire again as it has in the past two contests?
Now, Stan Johnson expects to have a few surprises in store for Saint Mary’s tonight. For one, Loyola’s forward depth can be thrown at a player like Saxen. Could that get the Gaels’ big man in foul trouble? Anything is possible. At the very least, Loyola Marymount gets the ability to keep playing at a higher tempo against Saint Mary’s. Loyola averages nearly 76 points per contest and over 80 in their last four victories.
Finally, it may be tough to take on Loyola Marymount via the moneyline. That could be too tall a hill to climb. Loyola fell a bit but is still above teams like St. John’s and near Fordham. Do not underestimate the Lions in this spot. Even at a low point, anything can happen in the WCC. Taking a shot at a number around +200 is intriguing.
The NCAA Basketball WCC Bets leans to the over on Thursday night in Los Angeles. Why? If the number stays under 130, these teams can go above 70 points easily. Their season averages dictate a potential to see 140 or more combined. Even with some banged-up players, the pace figures high as both teams try to assert dominance.
So, Saint Mary’s wants to prove they can follow up a big win. Meanwhile, Loyola Marymount must get on a streak to have a shot again at the NCAA Tournament. The Lions roaring at the right time is crucial. With less than a month until conference tournaments, that time may be now.
Granted, Saint Mary’s plays red-hot basketball currently. The assumption lies that the Gaels will keep on rolling. These matchups test the mettle of many schools. Look at how Arizona State faltered a few weeks ago after going on a run. One never knows when the fates may turn.
For the NCAA Basketball WCC Bets, using some solid Betting Site Online Bonuses here to boost bankroll can not hurt. The over in these matchups out west has been hitting a bit over 60% in the last month. That is quite a number. One scenario which might play out lies in a Saint Mary’s win with no cover and a flurry of points late.
Basketball pundits like these NCAAB online betting sites from Vegas. Good luck tonight!
