Fri Feb 28 04:20:00 UTC 2025: **Saint Mary’s Gaels Favored to Beat Loyola Marymount Lions, But Upset Possible**

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Saint Mary’s Gaels are set to face the Loyola Marymount Lions in a college basketball matchup on February 27th, 2025, at 11 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. While the Gaels are heavily favored, sports analyst Tanner McGrath predicts an upset.

Saint Mary’s, currently the top seed in the WCC Tournament after a recent victory over Gonzaga, enters the game as a 13.5-point favorite. However, McGrath, writing for Action Network, is picking Loyola Marymount to cover the spread (+13.5). He points to the potential for a “letdown spot” for the Gaels after their significant win and a grueling two-game road trip.

McGrath acknowledges Saint Mary’s offensive advantage, particularly their success in transition, but highlights Loyola Marymount’s surprisingly strong defense, especially their rim and post-up protection. He believes that the Lions’ defense, combined with a likely decrease in free throw attempts for the Gaels and potentially lower scoring overall, could keep the game close. He cites the previous matchup between the teams, where Loyola Marymount’s strong interior defense limited Saint Mary’s despite their overall win.

The analyst’s prediction rests on the belief that Loyola Marymount’s home-court advantage, a potentially sluggish Saint Mary’s team, and the Lions’ defensive capabilities will allow them to keep the game competitive enough to cover the sizable point spread. The game’s total points over/under is set at 132.5.

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