The Nevada Wolfpack put together a nice enough non-conference record to put itself into consideration for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. However, they must keep it up during conference play but lost last time out in a heartbreaker to Fresno State.
Nevada will aim to get back on track in a crucial clash against the San Diego State Aztecs. SDSU has struggled this season but is a perennial power and could turn it around at any time. The Wolfpack has the home court advantage and a better record so it will likely be favored in this matchup.
This war on the floor will go down Wednesday, January 4, 2017, at 11 p.m. ET at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada.
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Odds at BookMaker.eu
Nevada is 12-3 straight up and 8-6-1 against the spread on the season. The Wolfpack has played six home games and has performed impressively in those, covering in five of them. Nevada is 7-5-1 against the spread as the favorite this year and figures to be giving points once again.
San Diego State is 8-5 straight up and 4-6 against the spread. The Aztecs have gone on the road twice and failed to cover either time. They have only been underdogs twice this season but this will be the third time.
Player to Watch
Marcus Marshall -- Nevada’s best player is its senior guard. He has averaged in double figures in scoring every year since he was a freshman but is on pace for a career-high in 2016-17, averaging 20.9 points per contest.
Marshall is adding 3.0 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game and is the engine behind this offense. He is shooting 43 percent from the field and is a long-range threat, hitting 40.6 percent from downtown after hitting 45 percent of his attempts from there a season ago.
The Wolfpack have five players averaging in double figures, so there are others who can pick up the slack if he is having an off night, but Marshall is playing well in the earlygoing and will be the focus of San Diego State’s defense.
Key Stat
20. That’s the number of wins San Diego State has hit or exceeded in each of the past 11 years, as they have been a perennial threat among the mid-majors, regularly making it to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
However, if the Aztecs don’t turn it on in conference play, they will be in danger of falling short of 20 wins and missing March Madness. They made it there for six straight years before missing out last season and going to the NIT.
San Diego State generally fares very well in Mountain West Conference play but lost to New México in its opener, blowing a sizable first-half lead. There is still talent on this team but the Aztecs need to turn it around quickly to keep hitting the marks they are so accustomed.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
Even though Nevada has been the better team this season and plays at home, there is a sense that the Aztecs can put it all together at some point. Jeremy Hensley, Trey Kell and Zylan Cheatham are San Diego State’s top scorers and they hope to lead the way on a second half resurgence.
Malik Pope has missed the past few games due to injury, and if he is out in this one it’s another blow for San Diego State.
Nevada has reason to believe it should capture this win, but despite San DIego State’s poor record, it won’t be easy. Expect an inspired effort from the Aztecs which will result in a road upset of the Wolfpack as San Diego State finally shows some spark after a lost season to this point.
College Basketball Odds: San Diego State 73, Nevada 69
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