Potential Game of the Night – BYU at San Diego State

NCAA Basketball Sports Betting

BYU Cougars (20-6 SU, 15-10 ATS) at San Diego State (18-7 SU, 13-7-2 ATS)

Tuesday, February 24

BetOnline NCAA Basketball Betting Odds:  SAN DIEGO STATE -1

Here are some of the NCAA basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

• BYU has covered its last six games
• BYU has won five of its last six games SU
• BYU has played six of its last nine games OVER the total
• BYU has covered nine of its last 11 road games
• BYU has won 13 of its last 19 road games SU
• SDSU has won 17 of its last 23 games SU
• SDSU has played four of its last five games UNDER the total
• SDSU has won its last ten home games SU

Also…

• SDSU has covered four of the last five meetings
• SDSU has won five of the last seven meetings SU
• Four of the last six meetings have gone UNDER the total
• SDSU has won and covered the last five meetings as the home team
• BYU has had the rebounding edge in four of the last six meetings
• BYU has made more three-pointers in each of the last seven meetings

Surely it isn’t the greatest piece of news for San Diego State that forward Billy White may be out with an injury. White, who scored 24 points in win over Wyoming on February 14, and had shot an incredible 20-for-21 from the field in the last three games, went down with a hyper-extension of his left knee just a minute into Saturday’s 75-49 loss to New Mexico.

Remember though that White is only the Aztecs’ third leading scorer, and so the bigger guns are still on hand, like Kyle Spain (14.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and Lorrenzo Wade (13.8 ppg). On defense, White’s absence might be felt more, because he would be expected to guard Jonathan Tavernari, who averages 17 points a game. Tim Shelton is less experienced and will get that defensive assignment, but it is not as if the freshman doesn’t bring anything to the table (8 ppg, 4.7 rpg).

The thing about coach Steve Fisher, who you may recall has won a national championship with Michigan in the past, is that he is resourceful. He has dealt with injuries here and there with his team all year long, and still the Aztecs have a very good chance at a 20-win season.

You can blow holes in the way BYU has performed on the road, as they have covered nine of twelve as the visitor this season, but the Aztecs will be fired up here. San Diego State’s last outing resulted in its last point total of the season, and they’ll be seeking atonement, plus there is a revenge angle, as BYU stuck them with a 77-71 loss in the previous meeting. They are also the more desperate team, needing this one to bolster their hopes for an at-large berth should they not win the Mountain West tournament.

Don’t forget that San Diego State is pretty damn good at home, having won ten straight at the Cox Arena. In this near pick’em game, we’re with SDSU, the one-point favorite in the BetOnline Sportsbook.

JAY’S PLAY:  SAN DIEGO STATE -1
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

(Charles Jay makes his share of shots from downtown as a contributor to the BetOnline Locker Room)