Bulldogs in the Desert – Louisiana Tech at New Mexico State
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (10-15 SU, 12-7-1 ATS) at New Mexico State Aggies (13-12 SU, 10-14 ATS)
BetUS NCAA Basketball Sports Betting Odds: NEW MEXICO STATE -9
Here are some of the NCAA basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* LT has lost five of its last seven games SU
* LT has covered 10 of its last 14 games * LT has played six of its last seven games UNDER the total
* LT has lost four of its last five road games SU
* LT has covered six of its last seven road games
* LT has played five of its last seven road games UNDER the total
* NMSU has won four of its last five games SU
* NMSU has covered two of its last ten games
* NMSU has played eight of its last 11 games OVER the total
* NMSU has won its last four home games SU
* NMSU has covered one of its last seven home games
* NMSU has played its last six home games OVER the total
Also…
* NMSU has won five of the last six meetings SU
* NMSU has covered eight of the last 11 meetings
* NMSU has won the last four meetings SU as the home team
* NMSU has had the shooting edge in the last four meetings
* LT has made more three-pointers in four of the last five meetings
Ironically, both of these teams played Fresno State in their last game. Louisiana Tech shot 43% but hit eight of 14 shots from beyond the three-point arc to beat their fellow “Bulldogs” by a 55-42 score. They punctuated this victory with strong defense, holding Fresno is 26% shooting. That was on Thursday. Two days later, New Mexico State defeated Fresno State 79-71 but needed overtime to do it. The week before, both teams had scored close wins over Nevada.
Louisiana Tech has had a very difficult time getting wins on the road this season, but in a lot of cases they have been able top hang right in there, losing decisions by one point to Hawaii, five to Boise State, and eight to a torrid Utah State squad. Wins at San Jose State and Nevada were nothing to sneeze. I guess what we’re saying is that they’re not as horrible on the road as their record might suggest, and they have gotten the money, covering six of the last seven as the traveler.
The Bulldogs are very big on controlling the tempo, allowing a little less than 63 points a game. Louisiana Tech relies greatly on the guard combo of Kyle Gibson and Jamel Guyton, and while Guyton is a poor percentage shooter (36% FG’s, 31% threes), Gibson is hot and cold. For example, he scored 26 points (six-for-six from the arc) against Fresno, the only LaTech player in double figures, but went 0-for-13 from the field three games before that against San Jose State. Turnovers are a problem, as the Bulldogs have committed 15 a game. They’ll have something to worry about, as New Mexico State employs a full-court press.
Magnum Rolle, averaging seven rebounds and 1.9 blocks, along with 55% shooting, is Louisiana Tech’s do-everything guy up front who can deal with Wendell McKines, the WAC’s top rebounder. The Aggies are hurt a bit by the suspension of freshman guard Terrance Joyner, who was arrested for marijuana possession. New Mexico State is an underachiever at home, covering one of its last seven in Las Cruces. We can count on LaTech hanging around, so we take points with the Bulldogs, the nine-point underdog in the BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds.
