Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, CBB Picks, CBB Free Picks, CBB Predictions 3/19/26

Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, CBB Picks, CBB Free Picks, CBB Predictions 3/19/26

SAINT LOUIS  vs. GEORGIA ((UGA -2.5, 169.5)

CBB ODDS, CBB PREDICTIONS, CBB PREVIEWS

COACH RICK CBB PREVIEWS

BILLIKENS @ BULLDOGS 3/19/26

The No. 8-No. 9 matchup between the Saint Louis Billikens and the Georgia Bulldogs is shaping up to be one of the most competitive games of the First Round of the NCAA tournament. With the spread hovering around 2.5 points, this is essentially a coin-flip in the eyes of the oddsmakers.

Saint Louis has a high-powered offense, which led them to 22 double-digit wins this season. Georgia also has a high-octane offense that is fourth in the nation in scoring averaging 90.4 points per game. Which one has the edge?

Saint Louis enters this game as the more balanced and efficient unit. The Billikens rank 41st in KenPom and possess the 4th-best point differential in the nation (+17.7). Their offensive scheme under Josh Schertz is elite, ranking in the 96th percentile in half-court efficiency. They are one of the best shooting teams in the country, ranking 2nd in three-point percentage (40.5%) and 15th in two-point percentage (58.9%).

Georgia’s defense is the primary reason to fade the Bulldogs. They rank 315th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 79.2 PPG, and struggle significantly against ball screens (58th percentile). Saint Louis’s ability to share the ball (30th in Assist Rate) and their elite effective Field Goal percentage (59.7%, 2nd in NCAA) should allow them to exploit Georgia's defensive lapses. Historically, No. 9 seeds win 51.9% of these matchups, and the Billikens' statistical profile suggests they are the superior team despite the seeding.

This matchup features two of the fastest and highest-scoring offenses in the tournament. Georgia ranks 11th in Adjusted Tempo (72.0) and 5th in scoring (89.8 PPG), while Saint Louis ranks 21st in Tempo (71.1) and 10th in scoring (87.2 PPG). When two teams that prioritize pace and transition scoring meet, the possession count typically soars.

The statistical mismatch favoring the Over is Georgia's defensive inefficiency combined with Saint Louis's elite shooting. Georgia allows opponents to shoot 43.8% from the field, while Saint Louis is the #1 team in the nation in opposing field goal rate (37.9%). However, in a track-meet environment, Georgia's reliance on volume (4th in FG attempts) will keep the scoreboard moving. With both teams averaging over 87 points per game, this total is well within reach.

Robbie Avila, affectionately known as "Cream Abdul-Jabbar," is the focal point of the Saint Louis offense. He averages 12.9 PPG and 4.1 assists per game, making him one of the most unique playmaking big men in the country. Avila has cleared his assist line in 20 of 33 games this season and has scored 14+ points in back-to-back contests.

Georgia’s defense is particularly vulnerable to skilled big men. They rank 334th in defensive rebounding and 330th in opposing field goals made. Because Georgia utilizes full-court pressure and zone looks, Avila will frequently act as the "hub" in the middle of the floor, leading to high-value passing opportunities and open looks at the rim. Given his 128.0 Offensive Rating and 22.2% usage rate, Avila is positioned to dominate the stat sheet tonight.

The narrative for this game centers on Saint Louis's elite efficiency vs. Georgia's SEC volume. Saint Louis won 22 games this season by 10 or more points, showcasing a level of dominance that Georgia—who tied for seventh in the SEC—hasn't consistently matched. The Billikens' late-season slide (4-4 in their last eight) has created a "buy-low" opportunity on a team that was 24-1 to start the year.

Georgia is led by a talented backcourt featuring Jeremiah Wilkinson, Blue Cain, and Kanon Catchings. Catchings is coming off a massive 32-point performance against Alabama, proving he can take over a game. However, Georgia's struggle to prevent rebounds (334th) is a major red flag against a Saint Louis team that ranks 21st in total boards. If Robbie Avila and Kellen Thames (10.1% ORB) can control the glass and limit Georgia to one-and-done possessions, the Billikens' superior shooting will eventually break the game open. Expect a high-scoring affair where Saint Louis's discipline outlasts Georgia's athleticism.

Get free CBB Picks and CBB Predictions for the top games on the weekly 2026 CBB schedule from the YLose.com  crew, one of the industry's largest networks of premier expert CBB handicappers. YLose.com has been bringing the CBB betting community the best CBB free picks and predictions for nearly three decades. Visit daily for the best CBB moneyline and point spread odds and game totals.

FREE PICK: SAINT LOUIS 1H TEAM TOTAL OVER 38.5

Tonight’s game total suggests a high-scoring game. Both these teams rank in the top-25 in Adjusted Tempo and like to play fast. We know both can score and both teams also rank in the top-20 in 1H scoring. Saint Louis has only gone Over this number twice in its last 8 games but the two teams it did go Over ranked 208th and 312th in 1H scoring defense. Georgia ranks 273rd. Saint Louis actually averages 41.3 points in the 1H and they’ve hit this prop in 21 of 33 games this season. Georgia has allowed 4 of its last 5 opponents to go Over its 1H team total allowing 34, 47, 43, 35, and 42 points. 

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