The seventh-seeded Utah State Aggies take on the second-seed Colorado State Rams in the second round of the Mountain West Tournament Thursday. Tip-off from Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Utah State vs. Colorado State odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
The Aggies enter this game with an 18-14 record and off a first-round win over Air Force. Utah State won 83-56 and covered as a 15-point favorite.
The Aggies are 16-14-1 against the spread (ATS) on the season, and 9-8 straight up (SU) away from home, including a 5-1 record on neutral courts.
The second-seeded No. 24 Colorado State is an even more impressive 4-0 on a neutral court and 10-3 away from home.
They’re 14-13 ATS with a 24-4 straight-up record. CSU beat Utah State 66-55 Feb. 26 and picked up a 71-68 home win over the top-seeded Boise State March 5 in its regular-season finale.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Utah State vs. Colorado State odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:17 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Utah State +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Colorado State -170 (bet $170 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Utah State +3.5 (-112) | Colorado State -3.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 136.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
[tipico]
Utah State vs. Colorado State odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Colorado State 73, Utah State 67
Money line
PASS.
I like Colorado State (-170) as it has looked like the far dominant side all season, but the value for them to win outright isn’t quite in my ballpark. I’d rather play the spread.
Against the spread
LEAN to COLORADO STATE -3.5 (-108).
CSU beat Utah State 77-72 on its home court as it failed to cover as a 6.5-point favorite Jan. 12, and then toppled Utah State 66-55 in Utah Feb. 26, a far more impressive showing as it covered as a 3-point underdog.
Colorado State is on a three-game win streak with victories over Wyoming, Utah State and Boise State.
The Rams also have the seventh-best free-throw shooting rate in the nation at 78.8%. That’s going to be immensely helpful if this game is close down the stretch and Utah State tries to extend it with fouling.
COLORADO STATE -3.5 (-108) seems like the better side to back given it does so well in free-throw shooting and is 14th nationally in field-goal shooting.
Over/Under
LEAN to the OVER 136.5 (-115).
This will be the lowest total this matchup has seen with the highest being 150 in a game which CSU won at home 77-72.
CSU might by 10-17 O/U on the season, but it ranks 14th in field goal percentage and Utah State ranks 24th. Both teams have been competent shooting the ball this season.
Utah State is 6-0 O/U at a neutral site this season.
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