Saint Mary’s vs. Grand Canyon: 2024 NCAA Tournament Odds & Picks
Now that the 2024 NCAA Tournament brackets have been announced, it’s time to make your sports betting picks to increase the excitement of March Madness. Let’s take a look at the early odds and picks for the 2024 NCAA Tournament game: Saint Mary’s vs. Grand Canyon. And make sure to check out our 2024 NCAA Tournament Bracket Optimizer to take down your pools!
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2024 NCAA Tournament Odds & Picks: Saint Mary’s vs. Grand Canyon
Saint Mary’s 2024 NCAA Tournament Preview
It feels like every year, Saint Mary’s boasts a team with respectable analytical metrics, earns a high seed, and then fails to make it to the second weekend of the tournament. It’s not exactly a tale as old as time, but it’s starting to become cannon for these Gaels. Will this year be the same?
After handling Gonzaga in the WCC Tournament final, St. Mary’s enters the NCAA Tournament having won 23 of its last 25 games. It’s an impressive turnaround considering the Gaels started the year 2-5. This is in large part due to their rebounding numbers. Randy Bennett’s squad ranks in the top five in both offensive and defensive rebounding percentage. Their offensive efficiency ranks 45th in KenPom, but since they have a low turnover percentage and rebound nearly 40 percent of their misses, Saint Mary’s reps a high shot volume.
The big question is whether this team will show up against better opponents. Against top-100 opponents, Saint Mary’s went 7-5 and played some respectable defense, but their offense ranked 128th in efficiency. That is not promising for a deep tournament run. With one of the best near-proximity defenses in the nation, the Gaels do have what it takes. But with their ultra-slow pace, they don’t exactly have consistent play, ranking 351st in the consistency metric. Their depth also comes into question for a deep tourney run, especially for games with a quick turnaround. In the WCC final, only six players entered the game for the Gaels. With Joshua Jefferson and Harry Wessels both out, Saint Mary’s endurance will be tested, especially if facing a faster-paced team. Defense elevates the Gaels’ floor, but it’s a matter of getting past that second game and into the second weekend for Randy Bennett’s squad.
Grand Canyon 2024 NCAA Tournament Preview
The Antelopes out of the WAC earned a 12-seed in the NCAA tournament and rightfully so with only four losses. Their offense has a high floor with the 30th ranked offensive rebounding percentage and fifth highest free throw rate. Any team lacking depth may struggle with Grand Canyon’s faster pace and how many fouls they draw a game. Defensively, Bryce Drew’s squad isn’t anything to write home about but a top-50 defensive ranked efficiency gives them a decent floor.
They play feisty, forcing a high number of turnovers with one of the best interior defenses in the league. Teams will have to spread the floor against a squad like San Diego State and handle the Aztecs’ solid offense. Gabe McGlothan can sling it from deep if needed, Tyon Grant-Foster is a star, and it shouldn’t be a surprise with Grand Canyon being dubbed a Cinderella. They rank 13th in consistency and 38th in momentum so watch out for the Antelopes.
2024 NCAA Tournament Predictions: Saint Mary’s vs. Grand Canyon
The first thing that jumps off the page here is Grand Canyon’s interior defense. Ranking sixth in near-proximity defensive shooting percentage, the Gaels will have their hands full trying to score, considering they rank third in the percentage of shots coming at the rim. On the other side of the ball, you have a similar story. Grand Canyon is projected to take nearly 40 percent of shots from around the rim but face an equally difficult interior defense with Saint Mary’s ranking fourth at near-proximity defense.
Grand Canyon plays fiesty, pushes the pace, and will put Saint Mary’s into foul trouble. Considering the Gael’s lack of depth, Grand Canyon will keep this one close and since Saint Mary’s is one of the worse free throw shooting teams in the nation, the Antelopes will at least cover if not win outright.
2024 NCAA Tournament Predictions: Saint Mary’s vs. Grand Canyon
Pick: Grand Canyon +5.5 (-110 on DraftKings)
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2024 NCAA Tournament Sports Betting Picks
Now that the 2024 NCAA Tournament brackets have been announced, it’s time to make your sports betting picks to increase the excitement of March Madness. Let’s take a look at the early odds and picks for the 2024 NCAA Tournament
EAST REGION
- UCONN v Stetson (1v16)
- Iowa St. v South Dakota St. (2v15)
- Illinois v Morehead St. (3v14)
- Auburn v Yale (4v13)
- San Diego St. v UAB (5v12)
- BYU v Duquesne (6v11)
- Washington St. v Drake (7v10)
- Florida Atlantic v Northwestern (8v9)
MIDWEST REGION
- Montana St/Grambling St PLAY IN
- Virginia/Colorado St. PLAY IN
- Tennessee vs. Saint Peter’s (2v15)
- Creighton vs. Akron (3v14)
- Kansas vs. Samford (4v13)
- Gonzaga vs. McNeese (5v12)
- South Carolina vs. Oregon (6v11)
- Utah St. vs. TCU (8v9)
SOUTH REGION
- Boise St./Colorado PLAY IN
- Houston vs. Longwood (1v16)
- Marquette vs. Western Kentucky (2v15)
- Kentucky vs. Oakland (3v14)
- Duke vs. Vermont (4v13)
- Wisconsin vs. James Madison (5v12)
- Texas Tech vs. NC State (6v11)
- Nebraska vs. Texas A&M (8v9)
WEST REGION
- Howard/Wagner PLAY IN
- Arizona vs. Long Beach St. (2v15)
- Baylor vs. Colgate (3v14)
- Alabama vs. Charleston (4v13)
- Saint Mary’s vs. Grand Canyon (5v12)
- Clemson vs. New Mexico (6v11)
- Dayton vs. Nevada (7v10)
- Mississippi St. vs. Michigan St. (8v9)
2024 NCAA Tournament Bracket Pool Strategy & Picks
Below we provide strategy, advice, and picks to create the optimal NCAA Tournament bracket. And be sure to use our FREE bracket optimizer to build a winning men’s NCAA tournament bracket and take down your contest!