The Utah State Aggies (26-7) and San Diego State Aztecs (26-6) tangle for the Mountain West Conference Tournament title Saturday in Las Vegas. The contest at the Thomas & Mack Center will tip off at 6 p.m. ET (CBS). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Utah State vs. San Diego State odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Utah State has lost just 3 times since Jan. 17; 2 of those setbacks were against these Aztecs. In a stretch beginning with a MWC tourney loss in 2021, the Aggies have lost 4 of their last 5 to SDSU. Up-tempo USU boasts the most efficient offense in the conference, but the Aggies have been quite good on defense over their last 5 games.
San Diego State — ranked 20th nationally — beat the Aggies by 10 in their 1st meeting (Jan. 25) and 2 in their 2nd (Feb. 8). SDSU plays at a slower pace and has a stifling defense that has allowed just 56.9 points per game over the Aztecs’ last 7.
Rankings courtesy the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
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Utah State vs. San Diego State odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Utah State +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | San Diego -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Utah State +1.5 (-110) | San Diego -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 137.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Utah State vs. San Diego State picks and predictions
Prediction
San Diego State 67, Utah State 64
Moneyline
LEAN SAN DIEGO STATE (-125).
It would be a better play at -120, but this is within range.
Against the spread
In this series, the favorite has gone 5-2 ATS over the last 7 games.
Coach Brian Dutcher is an edge for the Aztecs. Dutcher has led SDSU into the National Championship Tournament field each of the last 2 years, and the Aztecs would have been a shoo-in for a top-4 seed in 2020.
San Diego State -1.5 (-110), with its stalwart defense, is the lean … but only an actionable one for real value at -1.5 (-105) or better. PASS.
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Over/Under
The Under has hit in 7 straight SDSU games.
USU’s best chance here is to play this game like it did the Feb. 8 contest when the Aggies lost 63-61 and the Under won by a margin of 22.5 points.
Utah State likes to get points in bunches from beyond the arc, but teams typically find San Diego State to be especially tough against perimeter shots. Look for some scoring spiral from the foul line, but that’s about it.
BACK THE UNDER 137.5 (-110).
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