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Georgia vs. Saint Louis: NCAA Tournament First Round Preview

3 months agoUS
Georgia vs. Saint Louis: NCAA Tournament First Round PreviewSource: cbssports.com
The 2026 NCAA Tournament is underway, and an interesting first-round matchup features the Georgia Bulldogs against the Saint Louis Billikens. Here's a preview of the game.

Key Insights

The game takes place on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., with tipoff at 9:45 p.m. ET.

Georgia is a 2.5-point favorite, with an over/under of 167.5 points.

Saint Louis is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019, while Georgia lost in the first round last year.

Saint Louis ranks 10th nationally in scoring offense (87.2 ppg) and second in 3FG% (.401).

Georgia is strong offensively, ranking fifth in the country with 89.9 ppg and leading in fastbreak points (19.9 ppg).

Somto Cyril, Georgia's center, is critical to UGA's plans as he will likely be tasked with defending St. Louis' Robbie Avila, Atlantic 10 player of the year.

In-Depth Analysis

Background

The Georgia Bulldogs (22-10) finished seventh in the SEC, while the Saint Louis Billikens (28-5) won the A-10 regular-season title.

Team Strengths

Saint Louis boasts a high-powered offense, setting school records for 3-pointers made and total points. Their scoring margin of +17.7 is fourth in the NCAA. Georgia's offense is also potent, with Jeremiah Wilkinson leading the team in scoring (17.0 ppg).

Key Player Matchup

Somto Cyril's defense on Robbie Avila could be a deciding factor. Avila, known for his 3-point shooting and passing ability, presents a unique challenge for opposing centers. Cyril's shot-blocking and rebounding will be crucial for Georgia.

Betting Analysis

SportsLine's model predicts the Under on the total points (167.5). The Billikens have leaned towards the under recently, and Georgia's games have also seen lower scores in neutral-site contests. The model also suggests one side of the spread hits nearly 70% of the time (see SportsLine&ref=yanuki.com for the pick).

FAQs

Q: What time does the game start?

9:45 p.m. ET.

Q: Where is the game being played?

KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

Q: What TV channel is the game on?

CBS.

Key Takeaways

Saint Louis' high-scoring offense and Georgia's fast-paced play style make this an exciting matchup.

The performance of Georgia's Somto Cyril against Saint Louis' Robbie Avila will be a key factor in determining the outcome.

Betting models suggest a lower-scoring game, so consider the under when placing bets.

Discussion

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