The gambling odds are out for tonight's 2011 West Conference Conference Tournament Finals and Gonzaga has emerged as a slim favorite over St. Mary's. The Bulldogs range from 1 1/2 to to 2-point favorites depending on which site you view. The over/under is at approximately 142 1/2 total points. Over the course of this season, Gonzaga has gone 14-11-1 against the spread while St. Mary's is 11-10-2 against the spread.
This line reflects how close this matchup should be tonight. In their two matchups this season the home team has been a four point favorite. In the first game up in Spokane the Bulldogs opened as 2 1/2 point favorites and the line closed with them as 4 point favorites. St. Mary's won that matchup 73-71. In the return match at Moraga, St. Mary's opened as 3 1/2 point favorites and the line closed with the Gaels as 4 point favorites. Gonzaga won that matchup 89-85 in overtime.
The rubber match will take place on a neutral court, but one person in attendance seems to think Gonzaga will have a huge advantage in terms of fan support. Given the wins on opposite home courts, it remains to be seen how valuable that will be. It should make for an electric atmosphere, particularly given the fact that both teams have very little margin for error when it comes to at-large bids.