San Diego State Aztecs (18-5) vs. Utah State Aggies (19-5)
Week 14 of the 2022-23 NCAA men’s basketball season is in full swing on Wednesday, February 8, when the San Diego State Aztecs take on the Utah State Aggies in this Mountain West Conference clash at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in Logan, Utah.
This will be the second and final meeting between the teams. The Aztecs defeated the Aggies on January 25, 85-75. They were favored by 7.0 points in the contest with the total set at 145.5. This contest has Utah State favored by 1.5 points with the total set at 147.0.
Aztecs Down Broncos
The San Diego State Aztecs (18-5, 9-12-1 ATS) downed the Boise State Broncos on Friday, 72-52. The victory moved the team to 12-1 at home, but they head to the road where they have still been very good, going 5-1. The Aztecs are 5-1 ATS in their last six games and are 5-1 SU in their last six.
San Diego State came out on fire, hitting 16 of 31 shots in the first half (51.6%) and finished at 51.0% overall. The club hit only four of 18 three-point attempts, surprising as they are hitting 35.7% of their three-point attempts this season, 101st in the nation. Nathan Mensah had 17 points and six rebounds and Keshad Johnson had 10 points, hitting all five of his field-goal attempts.
Team basketball!
— San Diego State Men's Basketball (@Aztec_MBB) February 4, 2023
📺: @FS1 @adamseiko2 x @kj_showtime0 x #TheTimeIsNow pic.twitter.com/mXhrtCad2E
San Diego State is averaging 69.8 shots per game, 198th in the country, but has seen a sharp reduction over the last three contests, averaging 63.8 shots per game. The Aztecs have 18.93 points per 100 possession differential, the 23rd best in the nation. They are averaging 114.5 points per 100 possessions (30th) while allowing 95.6 points per 100 possessions (28th). The Aztecs are averaging 74.8 points per game, 110th overall, hitting 45.8% of their shots, 112th. They are allowing 65.7 points per game.
Aggies Win Third Straight
The Utah State Aggies (19-5, 14-9-0 ATS) defeated the Colorado State Rams on Saturday, 88-79, their third straight win. Utah State is 5-1 SU in their last six, but are only 3-4 ATS in their last seven. The Aggies are 11-1 at home.
The Aggies held a one-point lead at the half, but hit 58.6% of their shots in the second half, including going 12-21 from three-point range. The club took 39 three-point attempts in the game, hitting 18 and went 12-15 from the free-throw line. Utah State is the best three-point shooting team in the country, at 41.8%, and is 28th in free-throw percentage (75.7%). Steven Ashworth led the team with 26 points and Sean Bairstow had a double-double, scoring 11 points and adding 10 assists.
Utah State receives votes in both polls this week 👏#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/fr3IOgpdIx
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) February 6, 2023
Utah State is averaging 68.6 shots per game, but only 62.1 over their last three. They are 40th in the nation in point differential per hundred possessions at 15.39, averaging 118.6 (12th) while allowing 103.2 points per 100 possessions (129th). This is a very good Utah State offense, 23rd in the nation in points per game (80.4), thanks to 17th in field-goal percentage (48.7%).
Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
This has the makings of a great contest and has significant implications on the MWC standings as San Diego State is 9-2 in the conference while Utah State is 8-3, tied for second. A victory here would give them an opportunity to move into the top spot in the conference and earn Utah State a place within the Top 25 rankings. Both teams are going to be looking to make a statement as the season dwindles down to its final few weeks.
Utah State has beaten teams by outscoring them, producing at least 84 points in each of their last two games, and have scored at least 75 in five of their last six contests. However, San Diego State can run and gun if they need to, scoring 85 against the Aggies on January 25. If an up-tempo game is what the Aggies want, the Aztecs are up for it and will pull out the victory.
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Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
These teams combined for 160 points the last time they met, so expecting this game to go over 147 seems like common sense. They have gone over in the last three meetings and Utah State enters this contest scoring at least 84 points in their last two games. Plus, the Aztecs have gone over in five of their last six games on the road while Utah State has gone over in seven of their last 10 overall and eight of their last 12 at home.
These teams are averaging a combined total of 155.2 points per game. San Diego State is the far superior team defensively, but the Aggies showed they can get at least 75 points against them, and return home where they have been even better, averaging 83.2 points per contest. Do not be surprised if this game reaches the 160 mark again.