San Jose State vs Colorado State Odds, Pick
| San Jose State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+15.5 -115 | 145.5 -110o / -110u | +1000 |
| Colorado State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-15.5 -105 | 145.5 -110o / -110u | -2000 |
The Colorado State Rams are on a roll, having won their last three games while making a name for themselves in the Mountain West Conference.
On Friday, the Rams will travel to San Jose, California, to face off against the Spartans.
Unfortunately, the Spartans have been a disaster in the conference, with one win and nine losses. They've also lost seven games in a row.
San Jose State Spartans
The Spartans have had a challenging year under the leadership of Tim Miles. The team has struggled in the MWC and has only managed to secure one conference win (against Air Force, which is also at the bottom of the league).
The team's major setback has been its defense, as it ranks 298th in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. This poor defense has allowed its opponents to shoot 53% from the floor, which includes a high 38% from 3-point land, one of the worst rates in the country.
The Spartans allow an average of 33 3-point attempts per game, which suggests some slight positive regression is coming.
On the other hand, their offense has been relatively stable, led by a backcourt that consists of Alvaro Cardenas and Myron Amey Jr.
The team's lack of depth and experience is a disadvantage for it, though.
In this matchup, the Spartans may have some success on the offensive front. However, it's highly unlikely that they'll pull off an upset at home, given the Rams' significant advantage on the offensive end. The Spartans' weak defense can't contain them.
Colorado State Rams
The Rams' offense has been performing exceptionally well lately. They're ranked 21st in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency and eighth in effective field goal percentage, making this an excellent matchup against the Spartans, who have one of the weakest defenses in the conference.
The Spartans have allowed their opponents to shoot 38% from 3 and haven't been forcing any turnovers, setting up an ideal matchup for point guard Isaiah Stevens, who continues to shoot well from deep.
Additionally, the Rams are excellent at free-throw shooting (77%), which will undoubtedly make a difference during the late stages of March.
The Rams may struggle to defend the perimeter during this upcoming matchup, as their opponents have been shooting 34% from beyond the arc. However, it's worth noting that the Rams are fairly decent at limiting the number of 3-point attempts made by their opponents.
Despite this, their overall field goal percentage allowed is 51%, which could result in a high-scoring game. Although the Spartans aren't known for their basketball skills, their offense remains a strong point for the team.
While I'm confident that the Rams will emerge victorious on the road, I'm hesitant about laying the wood against the Spartans, especially with a look-ahead game against the Aztecs on deck for the Rams.
San Jose State vs. Colorado State
Betting Pick & Prediction
While this may appear to be an unbalanced matchup on paper, there's value on the over. Earlier, I discussed the offensive strengths that both teams possess, and my prediction is that the Spartans will be able to keep up with the Rams, at least more so than people think.
Admittedly, the Spartans' defense has been lacking, and even though there may be some improvement in their perimeter defense, I don't believe it'll be enough to effectively slow down the Rams during Friday night's game.
I'm concerned that the Rams may be looking ahead to their duel against San Diego State, so I would suggest playing it safe and betting on the over in this one.
Expect a lot of scoring, including a high volume of 3-point attempts throughout the game. I can't envision a scenario where the total ends up being low.
