Saint Mary’s Gaels vs USC Trojans Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Saint Mary's vs USC NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Palm Springs.

Saint Mary's vs USC Prediction

Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Gaels and Trojans. The game is starting at 9:00 ET on truT, and it's hosted by the Trojans at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, CA. Get ready to place your bets! Saint Mary's is favored by -4.5 in this non-conference contest against USC. The game's over/under currently sits at 141.5 points.

Saint Mary's vs. USC Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Saint Mary's Gaels at USC Trojans
Where: Palm Springs at Acrisure Arena
Date: Thursday, November 28th
Betting Odds STMRY -4.5, STMRY -197 | USC +160 O/U 141.5

Gaels Preview: Is a Road Win Possible for the Gaels?

Saint Mary's Gaels Recent Game/Games

Saint Mary's picked up an 80-66 win over Cal Poly on Saturday, November 23rd. Playing at home, the Gaels were -20.5 point favorites going into the game.

Saint Mary's led 47-31 at halftime but were outscored 35-33 in the 2nd half. The Gaels didn't cover the spread, and the total points of 146 fell just under the O/U line of 148.5.

Gaels Offense Breakdown

Saint Mary's put up 80 points in their last game, shooting 46.4% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 52.2%, with a 57.1% success rate on two-pointers (24/42) and 29.6% from beyond the arc (8/27). They struggled at the free-throw line, hitting just 50% (8/16).

The Gaels grabbed 20 offensive rebounds and dished out 21 assists. Luke Barrett led the way with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists, shooting 53.3% overall and 50% from three (3/6). Augustas Marciulionis added 18 points and 5 assists, while Owen Koonce contributed 16 points, hitting 63.6% of his shots.

Gaels Team Defense

Saint Mary's Gaels gave up 66 points in their last game, with their opponents shooting 46% from the field on 32 of 69 attempts. Inside the arc, the Gaels allowed 57% shooting, as their opponents went 24 for 42 on two-point shots.

From three-point range, Saint Mary's held their opponents to 29% shooting, with 8 made threes on 27 attempts. The Gaels also sent their opponents to the free-throw line 16 times, where they converted 8 for 50%. Saint Mary's allowed 20 offensive rebounds in the game.

Trojans Preview: Can USC Deliver Being Underdogs at Home?

USC Trojans Recent Game/Games

USC improved to 4-0 on the season with an 80-69 win over Grambling State on Sunday. Despite being -21.5 point favorites, the Trojans didn’t cover the spread. The combined points of 149 went over the pre-game line of 139.5.

USC trailed 38-37 at halftime but turned things around in the second half, outscoring Grambling State 43-31 to secure the win.

Trojans Offense Breakdown

USC's offense put up 80 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field and posting an effective field goal percentage of 56%. They were strong inside, hitting 62.1% of their two-point attempts, while connecting on 33.3% from beyond the arc. At the free-throw line, the Trojans shot 69.7%, making 23 of 33 attempts.

Chibuzo Agbo led the way with 21 points, hitting 4 of 9 from three-point range. Josh Cohen was efficient, shooting 87.5% overall and perfect from deep, finishing with 18 points in 20 minutes. Mikale Stevenson contributed 10 assists to go along with 14 points.

Trojans Team Defense

USC's defense gave up 69 points, with the opposing team shooting 50% from the field. They allowed 25 made field goals on 50 attempts.

Inside the arc, the Trojans' defense struggled, giving up 18 two-point baskets on 29 attempts, a 62% shooting rate. From three-point range, the opposing team shot 33%, hitting 7 of 21 attempts.

Gaels vs Trojans Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

When looking at their past ten road matchups, Saint Mary's has an ATS record of 6-4 while averaging 75 per game. The team went 10-0 overall in these games.
When looking at their past three matchups at home, USC has an ATS record of 2-1 while averaging 70 per game. The team went 2-1 overall in these games.
The Trojans have played well in their last three games as the betting underdog, going 2-1 straight up and 2-1 against the spread.
In their last three games as the betting favorite, the Gaels have a straight up record of 3-0, while going 1-2 against the spread.