Iona vs Mount St. Mary’s Pick – Basketball Predictions & Odds 3/8/23

The Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers and Iona Gaels meet Wednesday in the college basketball MAAC Tournament Quarterfinal at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

The Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers are averaging 63.9 points on 42.4 percent shooting and allowing 68.8 points on 42.6 percent shooting. Jalen Benjamin is averaging 15.8 points and 2.9 rebounds, while Dakota Leffew is averaging 13.2 points and 2.6 rebounds. Malik Jefferson is grabbing 7.3 rebounds and George Tinsley is grabbing 5.9 rebounds. The Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers are shooting 35.8 percent from beyond the arc and 74.4 percent from the free throw line. The Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers are allowing 33.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 29.8 rebounds per game.

The Iona Gaels are averaging 76.6 points on 46.1 percent shooting and allowing 65.9 points on 41.1 percent shooting. Walter Clayton Jr. is averaging 16.5 points and 3.9 rebounds, while Nelly Junior Joseph is averaging 15.4 points and 9.5 rebounds. Daniss Jenkins is the third double-digit scorer and Quinn Slazinski is grabbing 5.7 rebounds. The Iona Gaels are shooting 35.8 percent from beyond the arc and 72.8 percent from the free throw line. The Iona Gaels are allowing 29.5 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 33.5 rebounds per game.

The Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers just weren’t a good team this season, and I doubt we’re going to see them at their best after playing an overtime game yesterday. The Iona Gaels are playing some of their best ball right now, and they waxed Mount St. Mary’s twice already. Iona wins as favorites by an average of 11 points and is 9-4 ATS as a double-digit favorite. Give me Iona.