#9 Saint Louis vs. #8 Georgia Prediction & Best Bets: Will the Billikens Blow Past the Bulldogs in Buffalo?
Written by: Eddie Griffin
Last Update: Thu Mar 19, 2026, 4:50 pm ET
Read Time: 6 minutes
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During the NFL season, Buffalo is home to plenty of offensive fireworks from Josh Allen, James Cook, and one of the NFL's most potent offenses. Today, Buffalo may play host to some March Madness fireworks, as tonight's Saint Louis vs. Georgia matchup (9:45 p.m. ET, CBS) features two of the highest scoring teams in college basketball.
The Billikens (28-5) are back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2019, led by second-year head coach Josh Schertz. Saint Louis won the Atlantic 10 regular season title but came up short of a sweep after a last-second loss to Dayton in the tournament semifinals.
Their reward is the No. 9 seed in the Midwest Region and a first round matchup with eighth-seeded Georgia (22-10).
It has also been a successful season in Athens. Georgia, who is dancing for the second straight year, posted a winning record in SEC play for the first time in a decade. Also, the Bulldogs have won 22 games for just the fifth time in program history and the first time since the 2001-02 season.
Barring the wildest of upsets, the winner of this matchup will move on to meet Michigan, the top seed in the Midwest Region.
With Saint Louis, Georgia, Michigan, Miami (OH), and Alabama all in the region, the Midwest could feature several high-scoring contests.
That includes the nightcap of tonight's action in Buffalo, as Lucky Rebel and other top online sportsbooks have given Saint Louis vs. Georgia the highest total of the 32 first round games.
Saint Louis vs. Georgia Odds and Probabilities
Odds are from Lucky Rebel.
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Implied Win % | True Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis | +2.0 (-108) | +114 | Over 167 (-111) | 46.73% | 44.98% |
| Georgia | -2.0 (-112) | -138 | Under 167 (-109) | 57.98% | 55.02% |
Saint Louis vs. Georgia Prediction and Analysis
While both of these teams have lit up the scoreboard on a frequent basis this season, they fell short in their respective conference tournaments because of an off night offensively.
Saint Louis nearly escaped a difficult day against Dayton, but the Billikens were beaten 70-69 on a last-second tip-in that capped off one of the most frantic finishes you will see this season.
Georgia, meanwhile, ran into an Ole Miss team that nearly made a March miracle. The Rebels, who went into the SEC tournament with a 12-19 record but fell just short of reaching the championship game, made the Bulldogs their second of three victims in a 76-72 win in the second round.
Based on the balance of what the Billikens and Bulldogs have done this season, tonight's Saint Louis vs. Georgia matchup should see much more offensive success at both ends.
Entering the NCAA tournament, Saint Louis ranks in the top 10 nationally in scoring (87.2 PPG, 10th), field goal percentage (50.9%, 6th), made three-pointers per game (10.9, 10th), and three-point percentage (40.1%, 2nd). They made 10 threes against Dayton but shot only 35.7% (10 of 28) from outside and 43.1% (22 of 51) overall from the field.
Top Players for Saint Louis
- Robbie Avila: 12.9 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.1 APG
- Trey Green: 11.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG
- Dion Brown: 11.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG
- Amari McCottry: 10.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.8 APG
Georgia enters the SEC tournament averaging 89.8 PPG, which ranks fifth behind two SEC foes (Alabama at 91.7 PPG and Arkansas at 89.9 PPG) and two mid-major darlings (Miami (OH) at 90.6 PPG and High Point at 90.0 PPG).
But the Bulldogs were off in every facet offensively against Ole Miss, making just 9 of 38 threes (23.7%) and shooting 36.4% (24 of 66). They also made just 15 of 25 (60%) free throws, which loomed large in a four-point loss.
Top Players for Georgia
- Jeremiah Wilkinson: 17.0 PPG
- Blue Cain: 13.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.7 APG
- Kanon Catchings: 12.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG
- Marcus Millender: 11.9 PPG, 4.0 APG, 2.8 RPG
Offensively, things might be a wash. Both teams have four players who average double figures in scoring and multiple other options who can produce points.
Defensively, however, Saint Louis may be more equipped to get game-changing stops vs. Georgia.
The Billikens rank first nationally in field goal defense (37.9%) and fifth in three-point defense (29.4%). And Saint Louis has allowed 80+ points just five times all season. Four of those times have come in the last 11 games, but SLU offers the superior offense/defense combination in this matchup, even if you account for the gap in difficulty between the SEC and A-10.
That is why, ultimately, the Billikens, not the Bulldogs, should move on to a Saturday showdown against Michigan.
Saint Louis vs. Georgia Best Bets
SLU ML (+114 at Lucky Rebel)
Saint Louis/Georgia Over 167 (-110 at Lucky Rebel)
As noted above, this is the highest total on the March Madness odds board for the first round. But Bart Torvik's projections for today have this one at 175, which would see the over cash by several points.
Look for that to be the case but also look for a different result than Torvik's projection of an 88-87 Georgia win. It may come down to the last few minutes, but Saint Louis should move on to meet Michigan.
Bet on March Madness at Lucky Rebel and BetOnline
If you are looking for the best sites for NCAA tournament betting in 2026, look no further than Lucky Rebel and BetOnline.
At both of these sites, you can find odds for every March Madness game, as well as a variety of futures odds for the tournament. If you love to bet alternate spreads and totals, Lucky Rebel will have both for every tournament game, and it is also a top destination for betting on March Madness player props. BetOnline, meanwhile, is a top option for same-game parlays, building custom props, and March Madness futures.
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Check Out the Other March Madness Content from Betting News
For college basketball bettors, March Madness is the most wonderful time of the year. And at Betting News, we have you covered for this festively fun season with expert picks throughout the tournament from Nate Hornung and Eddie Griffin, consensus picks for every March Madness game from the First Four to the Final Four, a rundown of the best March Madness betting sites, and more.
Also, through our streams and social media channels, you can get even more insight from Nate and other members of the Betting News team, as well as offer your own thoughts and tips for the tournament.
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