Mountain West Conference Hoops Predictions – New Mexico Lobos vs Colorado State Rams
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New Mexico Lobos vs. Colorado State Rams
Thursday, Approximately 2:35 PM ET (Following Game 1 of the Mountain West Quarterfinals)
Odds: New Mexico -2.5
Total: 135.5
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In the Mountain West Conference Tournament, teams will desperately try to make a final push in pursuit of an NCAA Tournament automatic bid. They’ll begin that push in the quarterfinals.
This is the 5-4 game in the Mountain West quarterfinals. The Lobos are the five seed and the Rams are the four seed.
Colorado State had a chance to make the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team a few weeks ago, but damaging losses to UNLV, Air Force, BYU and San Diego State all pushed CSU to the National Invitation Tournament. The only way CSU can make the Big Dance is to win the Mountain West Tournament.
New Mexico was consigned to that fate a full month ago, so this game is not a bubble game; it’s a full-on battle for survival.
New Mexico swept BYU this season, which would make you think that the Lobos are better than the Rams.
However, UNM has been far less consistent than Colorado State as they split the two meetings; the Lobos play down to their competition, while the Rams’ biggest problem is that they’re not able to take down elite teams.
The key for New Mexico will be to make Andy Ogide work for his points as the Rams really don’t have a great supporting cast around him. The Lobos have a little bit more depth as Drew Gordon and Dairese Gary tend to be the main men while Phillip McDonald being the inconsistent third option.
Since this is not a sexy or high-profile kind of clash, don’t expect New Mexico to deliver the goods.
But Colorado State is playing for their 20th win of the season and while they tend to be more blue collar, they get more balanced efforts team-wide. They last notched a 20-win season back in 1997-98, so this is going to be something important to them.
Take the levelheaded team over the more schizoid foe. In other words, pick Colorado State, because New Mexico only seems to play well when BYU or some other brand-name program is the opponent. Colorado State also plays better defense and if they can keep McDonald in check, they should win this contest.
NCAAB Betting Trends:
Under is 6-2 in NM last 8 overall.
Under is 6-2 in NM last 8 vs. Mountain West.
Over is 7-1 in COLST last 8 Thu. games.
COLST are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 Thu. games.
Under is 7-3 in COLST last 10 overall.
Pick: Colorado State
