Maryland vs. Grand Canyon Prediction, Odds & Preview: NCAA Tournament First Round Best Bets
The No. 4 seed Maryland Terrapins (25-8) take on No. 13 seed Grand Canyon Lopes (26-7) today as they look to advance in the West Region of the March Madness bracket. Tipoff from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle is at 4:35 p.m. ET (TBS).
Our Maryland vs. Grand Canyon prediction, odds, and preview will help you navigate the NCAA Tournament first-round game. Our March Madness predictions series continues as we discuss a surprisingly strong Terps squad listed as a 10.5-point betting favorite.
🏀 Maryland vs. Grand Canyon prediction & picks today
Here are my best Maryland vs. Grand Canyon predictions for the first round of the NCAA Tournament; use our parlay calculator to get the best odds for any same-game parlay:
✅ Against the spread pick: Maryland -10 (-110 via Caesars) vs. Grand Canyon ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔥 Best player prop bet: Ja’Kobi Gillespie Over 14.5 points (-120 via Fanatics) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎯 Exact score prediction: Maryland 85, Grand Canyon 70 (+15000 via DraftKings)
👉 Want more picks? Check out our latest college basketball picks and the rest of our March Madness first-round predictions.
🔢 Maryland vs. Grand Canyon updated betting action
- The public really likes the underdogs to cover, as 60% of the spread tickets at BetMGM are on Grand Canyon
- The Over was the more favorable side earlier today, but now it's getting a more modest 57% of the action
- After opening at -10.5, Maryland has since moved to a 11.5-point favorite
🏆 Best Maryland vs. Grand Canyon pick, player prop bet & score prediction
Our NEW college basketball player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds for any March Madness market across legal sportsbooks in your area!
✅ Maryland to cover the spread: -10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Although Grand Canyon is one of the more popular Cinderella picks this season, I think people are disrespecting their first-round opponent. Since Feb. 1, the Terps rank eighth overall in T-Rank, mainly due to their second overall ranking in adjusted defensive efficiency; over the same span, the Lopes rank 80th. They’re also outside the top 300 in turnovers, 3-point percentage, and 3-point rate.
Generally, the path to a Cinderella run requires either a very efficient offense (see: Florida Gulf Coast, 2013—a top-20 team by 2-point percentage) or a slow-pace and efficient defense (see: Saint Peter’s, 2022—a bottom 150 team by pace and a top-30 team by adjusted defensive efficiency). Grand Canyon doesn’t fit into either box.
The Lopes rank a solid 62nd in adjusted defensive efficiency since February 1, but that came with the 24th-fastest pace. Maryland won’t be caught off guard by a high-speed offense because they run one, too. The Terps are 42nd in pace through that sample.
A team’s pace is extremely important in March because it increases the influence of shooting variance on the outcome. With a high-speed game likely in store, Maryland will have more possessions to capitalize upon their efficiency advantage on both ends of the floor. Look for them to cover in an uninteresting double-digit win.
📊 Best odds: -10 via Caesars ($10 to win $9.09)
New users only. Must use promo code. Min. $10 deposit. Max. bonus is ten 100% Profit Boost tokens. Profit Boost tokens expire in 14 days. Void where prohibited. Full terms.
🔥Ja’Kobi Gillespie over 14.5 points ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I may not be a big believer in Grand Canyon, but I will give them credit where credit is due. Since Feb. 1, GCU has ranked an impressive 10th in opponent 2-point percentage at 44.7%. Despite its solid interior defense, opposing teams took 3-pointers at a rate of only 35.2%, well below the league average (38.7%).
The Terps don’t take a ton of long-range shots, but Gillespie has sunk at least a pair of treys in his last five games.
With a very solid 3-point shooting percentage of 41.2%, Gillespie stands to benefit a ton if Maryland tries to navigate around Grand Canyon’s solid interior play. He is averaging 14.7 points per game on the year, a smidge above his player prop total. I don’t hate the Derik Queen under, but with his total at only 16.5, I’m leaving him off the card in what should be a fast-paced game.
📊 Best odds: -120 via Fanatics ($10 to win $8.33)
Various welcome offer choices available in select states. Terms and conditions apply.
🎯 Score prediction: Maryland 85, Grand Canyon 70
The total for Friday’s action is set to 150.5, so we’re going slightly over that number by projecting 155 points. We’re also backing Maryland to cover solidly, as the 15-point margin of victory clears the spread by five points.
I think the pace will play a huge factor in this one, as Maryland will get plenty of possessions to prove themselves as the far better team. Grand Canyon’s turnover issues will only feed into that problem. Back the Terps to win big.
📊 Best odds: +15000 via DraftKings ($10 to win $1,500)
Terms and conditions apply.
🤖 Maryland vs. Grand Canyon AI prediction
For entertainment purposes, we asked ChatGPT to analyze historical trends and live NCAA Tournament stats before predicting the winner and exact score for Maryland vs. Grand Canyon. Our AI prediction projects a final score of Maryland 80, Grand Canyon 68.
🖥️ AI score prediction: Maryland 80, Grand Canyon 68
- Maryland's defense, ranked in the top 10 nationally for defensive efficiency, is expected to challenge Grand Canyon's offense, which has struggled with turnovers and 3-point shooting
- The health of GCU's leading scorer, Tyon Grant-Foster, who averages 14.8 points and six rebounds per game, is uncertain due to recent injuries
- Maryland's lack of depth and a weak non-conference schedule raise questions about their adaptability against diverse competition, though their starting five remains formidable
🤔 Betting takeaway: ChatGPT's AI prediction would mean Maryland covering the spread (-10.5) and a total of Under 150.5 points. ChatGPT is not a dedicated sports betting model, but it can identify data that March Madness bettors might overlook.
📊 Live Maryland vs. Grand Canyon odds
Follow the latest live March Madness college basketball odds and real-time NCAA Tournament scores for the first round.
Latest Maryland vs. Grand Canyon odds
Our updated Maryland vs. Grand Canyon odds are via BetMGM.
Spread
Maryland opened as the 10.5-point favorite on Sunday night and remained there for much of the week. Now in the hours before tipoff that number has moved to -11.5
Total
The total has been bouncing between 150.5 and 149.5 throughout the week, and it sits at the latter number now.
Moneyline
Maryland remains the heavy -600 moneyline favorite, though that price did shorten slightly to -550 twice.
🔢 Maryland vs. Grand Canyon opening odds
- Spread: Maryland -11 (-110) | Grand Canyon +11 (-110)
- Moneyline: Maryland -650 | Grand Canyon +460
- Over/Under: Over 150.5 (-115) | Under 150.5 (-105)
📅 Check out the full March Madness first-round schedule and opening odds.
🔮 West Region expert picks
- West Region betting preview
- Florida vs. Norfolk State prediction
- UConn vs. Oklahoma prediction
- Memphis vs. Colorado State prediction
- Maryland prediction Grand Canyon prediction
- Drake vs. Missouri prediction
- Texas Tech vs. UNC Wilmington prediction
- Kansas vs. Arkansas prediction
- St. John's vs. Omaha prediction
📺 How to watch Maryland vs. Grand Canyon: NCAA Tournament first round
📅 Date: Friday, March 21
🕗 Time: 4:35 p.m. ET
📍 Location: Climate Pledge Arena (Seattle)
📺 TV: TBS
💻 Streaming: March Madness Live
💰 March Madness betting odds pages
| March Madness odds | March Madness MVP odds |
| Women's March Madness odds | March Madness MVP predictions |
| Final Four odds | March Madness prop bets |
👑 Best March Madness betting sites
Ready to place your March Madness bets? Check out the best March Madness betting promos from the best March Madness betting sites as determined by our expert team at Sportsbook Review.
- Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUSDYW | Read our Caesars Review
- BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
- bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
- FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
- DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review
(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission
