WAC Tournament Championship
Grand Canyon vs Southern Utah Odds
| Grand Canyon Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -115 | 148.5 -110o / -110u | -105 |
| Southern Utah Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -105 | 148.5 -110o / -110u | -115 |
In a league largely dominated by two teams this season — Sam Houston State and Utah Valley — the finale is a rather stunning matchup that includes neither of those squads.
Utah Valley had all but wrapped up its championship invite. The Wolverines held a 99.3% win probability while up 17 on Southern Utah with 6:42 to play.
But in case you forgot: this is March.
Southern Utah made an electrifying rally down the stretch, ultimately completing the comeback via a four-point play with less than five seconds remaining.
Grand Canyon’s upset of SHSU was nearly as dramatic. A huge triple in the final minute from Noah Baumann helped the Antelopes slip by the WAC’s top seed, 78-75.
That sets the stage for a potentially wild title game late on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Both programs are seeking their second-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament (at the Division I level).
SUU and GCU met only once this season, and it was 10 days ago in Cedar City, UT. The visiting Antelopes won a shootout, 83-78, led by a brilliant 29-point performance from star guard Ray Harrison.
Harrison is the bedrock of this GCU squad. Impressively, he shouldered a starring role after preseason WAC Player of the Year Jovan Blacksher tore an ACL in early January.
The Presbyterian transfer is a 6-foot-4 matchup nightmare, combining his size and quickness to live at the free-throw line. To stop GCU, you must limit Harrison.
SUU’s ball-screen and isolation defense is only so-so, both by the eye test and the numbers. Synergy grades the Thunderbirds’ pick-and-roll defense in the 45th percentile nationally, and the roster is not flush with terrifying on-ball defenders.
On the other end, SUU wants to get downhill in transition and spend time at the charity stripe. The T-Birds rank 10th nationally in free-throw rate, and all five starters rank in the top 22 of that stat in the WAC.
Tevian Jones is the name to remember. A former Illinois transfer, the 6-foot-7 wing is every bit the matchup problem that Harrison presents for GCU. He converted the aforementioned four-point play to boost SUU past UVU, and he could have another big outing today.
Grand Canyon vs Southern Utah Betting Pick
Like in the first meeting, both teams should be able to score. Neither defense has proven to be capable of stopping what the opponent does best. However, the tempo could slow due to both teams playing a third game in three days — plus surviving to-the-wire semifinals.
One edge that could prove key: GCU’s depth. Even after the loss of Blacksher, the Antelopes rank 140th nationally in bench minutes, while SUU is 359th.
That could factor in based on fatigue, but it could also be pivotal due to both teams’ penchant for drawing fouls. If multiple SUU starters must ride the pine for long stretches, GCU gains a major edge.
With the similarities between the two teams — better on offense than defense, reliant on the free-throw line — riding with the deeper squad makes sense.
The pick'em spread emphasizes the coin-flip nature of this game, but it’s the Antelopes for me.
Pick: Grand Canyon PK (Play to -2) |
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