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The UAB Blazers (23-11) and San Diego State Aztecs (24-10) clash Friday in an East Region 1st-round game in Spokane, Wash. Tip-off at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena will be at 1:45 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the UAB vs. San Diego State odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
Alabama-Birmingham made the tourney as champions of the American Athletic Conference. UAB, the 12-seed in the East, covered a 6 1/2-point spread in the 85-69 ACC title game win over Temple on Sunday.
Fifth-seed San Diego State, ranked No. 25 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, last played Saturday when it was ousted 68-61 by New Mexico as a 2-point favorite in the Mountain West tournament. The Aztecs are a team that usually excels in getting to the foul line. but SDSU has been outscored at the line in 4 of its last 5 games.
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UAB vs. San Diego State odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:33 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: UAB +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | San Diego State -275 (bet $275 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): UAB +6.5 (-110) | San Diego State -6.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 139.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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UAB vs. San Diego State picks and predictions
Prediction
San Diego State 74, UAB 70
Moneyline
Better leverage is available elsewhere. STEER CLEAR.
Against the spread
When lined as an underdog, UAB is 10-2 ATS. The Blazers are 15-6 ATS across their last 21 games in all tournaments. SDSU is 4-7 ATS in non-conference play. And the rest may between games may not have done the Aztecs a favor: SDSU is 0-4 ATS when playing on 5- or 6-day rest.
UAB may not win this game, but expect the Blazers to get a decent number of points when not in the flow of an offensive set. Second-chance and free-throw points and a slow Aztec pace should serve to keep UAB within a touchdown.
BACK THE BLAZERS +6.5 (-110).
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Over/Under
Those 12 games with UAB as underdogs have seen 8 Overs. The Over has gone 5-1 across 6 San Diego State tournament game this season.
The UAB put-backs and free throws tip the scales toward the high side of this one, and both teams have exhibited an uptick in pace of late.
Consider a partial-unit play on the OVER 139.5 (-110).
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