The San Diego Aztecs and the Houston Cougars have the potential to produce the best game of the first round. That is up to us to tell, though, as these two teams’ focus is on beating the hell out of each other. Read on for a preview of this big game and register here to make your pick.
Betting Preview for the San Diego State Aztec vs Houston Cougars College Basketball Game on March 16, 2018
Where: Intrust Bank Arena
When: Friday, March 16, 7:20PM EST
Line: San Diego State Aztec () vs Houston Cougars () – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: TBS
Betting on the San Diego State Aztec (22-10)
San Diego State is on a nine-game win streak, which it wants to extend this Thursday at the expense of the Cougars. That stretch saw the Aztecs win over New Mexico, 82-75, in the championship game of the Mountain West Conference. Also during that span, the Aztecs showed that their defense is nothing to scoff at, as they beat high-scoring Nevada twice, including their 90-73 win in the conference tournament’s semifinals game on Mar. 9 in which San Diego State held the Wolf Pack to only 39.7 shooting percent from the field. San Diego State is limiting opponents to only 68.4 points per game on 42.1 field goal shooting percentage. The team’s frontcourt tandem of Malik Pope and Jalen McDaniel, who are both 6-foot-10, could make life hard in the paint for the Cougars.
Betting on the Houston Cougars (26-7)
Houston upset Wichita in the semifinals of the AAC Tournament and went agonizingly close to winning it all, losing to Cincinnati in the finals by the skin of its teeth, 56-55. Still, those two games showed how seriously dangerous Houston is. The Cougars have a top 31 offense and defense according to KenPom, which tells us that this team is capable of frustrating opponents on both ends of the court. The Cougars score 77.4 points per game with Rob Gray leading the way. The senior hotshot torched the Shockers with 33 points and followed that up with a 17-point performance against Cincinnati’s elite defense. Gray is averaging 18.5 points per game and gets help from Corey Davis Jr., who makes 13.5 PPG. On defense, Houston holds teams to 64.9 points per game on just 43.8 field goal shooting percentage – eighth best in the nation.
Writer’s Prediction
San Diego State wins, 77-73.
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