Henry Roldán
This Saturday the bracket East will live a very even game when the Gaels face the Bruins in the second round of March Madness 2022. Saint Mary’s comes into the game after comfortably defeating, 82-53, an Indiana team that simply couldn’t fuel one of the nation’s best defenses. UCLA had to sweat more than the count to beat 57-53 Akron, seeded No. 14 in the conference.
Picks and Predictions for the Saint Mary’s Gaels vs UCLA Bruins NCAA Basketball Championship Round 2 Game on March 19
- Where: Moda Center – Portland, Oregon
- When: Saturday, March 19, 7:10 PM ET
- Betting Line: Saint Mary’s Gaels (+2.5) vs UCLA Bruins (-2.5)
Saint Mary’s Gaels Betting Preview
- Overall Record: 25-7
- Conference Record: 12-3
- Spread: +2.5
- Over/Under: Over 125.5
- Moneyline: +125
Defense, defense and more defense. That was the Gaels’ key to defeating Indiana’s shaky offense and will be again this Saturday against a UCLA team that doesn’t have its offense as its strength. The defense was the soul and life of Saint Mary’s during the regular round and proof of this is that in the three games they played against Gonzaga, candidate to keep the title, they won on one occasion and in none of the three the rival could score more than 70 points. In the whole campaign their rivals barely averaged 60 points against them.
However, while there is no doubt about the team’s defensive skills, problems come when they go on the attack. During the season no player on the team averages more than 13 points per game and against a defense as solid as that of the Bruins, this is a serious problem. Yes, against Indiana they soared thanks to Logan Johnson’s 20 points and Tommy Kuhse’s 19, as well as overcoming their problems from the free throw line and long distance. The problem is that UCLA is not Indiana, so Saint Mary’s will have to do its best.
UCLA Bruins Betting Preview
- Overall Record: 25-7
- Conference Record: 15-5
- Spread: -2.5
- Over/Under: Over 125.5
- Moneyline: -145
Again much is expected of UCLA, a team that by names should be in the top ten of the nation, but that due to its irregular game finished in second place in the Conference, behind Arizona State and in the first round, against Akron, showed the reason for the doubts around its performance.
Against a very weak Akron defense, the Bruins could barely score 57 points. In the paint they again had a bad commitment and failed to get as many free throws as they should, as they are one of the best in the nation from that line. If they don’t drastically improve in their field goal percentage and get the Gaels into trouble with a lot of fouls, Saint Mary’s fierce defense will lead them to elimination.
JefeBet Prediction
UCLA’s experience in this championship season should be important, but Saint Mary’s are playing perfectly on defense. Even though they don’t score many points, Neither does UCLA. In a defensive battle, I like what the Gaels have done and I think they’re going to surprise. This time I take a risk with the moneyline of the Gaels.
