Multiple times each week, The Gaming Juice’s resident action seeker, Brad Evans, will attempt to blast the ‘books with his favorite selections on sides, totals, props, teasers or parlays. As always, fade or follow Brad’s picks — fading is encouraged — but that’s up to you.
Sledgehammer Special — Gonzaga -2.5 (-110, ESPN) … Play up to -3.5
As predictable as familiar political ancients going toe-to-toe yet again this November is the matchup in the West Coast Conference Tournament championship game.
Gonzaga versus Saint Mary’s.
For those night owls who harbor affections for Left Coast sweat sessions, it’s become quite the storied rivalry. In fact, the matchup has occurred in six of the past eight WCC tournaments.
“Locks” are a misleading selling point in gambling, but the conference powerhouses' almost annual meeting to decide Dancing rights should have a line set at -1000. With the game being played at The Orleans in Las Vegas, it’s only appropriate that some juice, no matter how outrageous, is offered.
[ Bracket Big Board: Brad Evans’ NCAA Tournament projections ]
On offense, Gonzaga is an off-the-tracks freight train. Since Feb. 1, the Zags are a galactically good No. 2 in effective field-goal percentage offense, shooting an outlandish 60.0% from two and 41.0% from three.
Graham Ike’s smooth pivot moves, Ryan Nembhard’s assertive drives, Ben Gregg’s arc marksmanship and Nolan Hickman’s all-around contributions have severely taxed defenses. Anton Watson and Ike’s activity on the offensive glass have also added to the opposition’s burden. Outside of Illinois and Kentucky, there isn’t a team burning the nets quite like the Fightin’ John Stocktons.
As for Randy Bennett’s bunch, Saint Mary’s is the epitome of “statistically balanced.” The analytics heartthrob is top-15 nationally in effective field-goal percentage offense and effective-field goal percentage defense over its last nine games.
The Gaels, who beat the Bulldogs 64-62 in Spokane in early February, are sure to repeatedly punch back. Molasses slow in their execution (No. 358 in adjusted tempo on the season), they protect the rock and are especially punishing on the perimeter (43.5 3PT% since Feb. 1). Alex Ducas (44.7 3PT%), Aidan Mahaney (35.0%) and Augustus Marciulionis (34.3%) are deadly from three. The Zags, No. 271 in three-point percentage D in their last 10 games, need to contest.
Mark Few’s crew clotheslined Saint Mary’s 70-57 in Moraga just 10 days ago. For the Gaels, the pain is still fresh. Yes, their motivation to exact revenge is high, but Nembhard’s workmanship and the Gonzaga offense’s general out-of-this-world execution point to the Bulldogs winning their fifth straight WCC tourney title.
See you at the craps table.
Season record: 14-13, +1.68 units
BONUS TIME — Boston College +2 vs. Miami (-110, DK)