College Basketball Free Picks
Colorado State (+13') at SAN DIEGO STATE
By Stephen DeAngelo, Featured Handicapper
Took
a step back Monday, as the Nets somehow blew a 54-41 halftime lead and lost
outright to Orlando, costing me a 40 Dime play and ending my three-day winning
streak. Not exactly happy about that result, of course. But you give me three
of four winning days consistently, and I’ll be happy as a pig in slop.
Back
at it on Tuesday with my 30 Dime College Hoops Winner #3 of 4 and #2 in a row.
For this one, we focus on ACC action as Duke pays a visit to Wake Forest. The
Blue Devils—who suffered a 22-point loss at N.C. State in their last road game
but bounced back with a 24-point home rout of Virginia Tech on Saturday—are laying
a huge number in this one. The question is: Is it too big? Or are the oddsmakers
selling the Dukies short?
You
better believe I’ve got the correct answer—just as I had it Sunday with my 30
Dime winner on Boise State over New Mexico, and just as I had it a week ago
tonight with my 30 Dime winner on Nevada over New Mexico.
Bottom
line: I’m getting back on track tonight with Winning Day #4 of 5, and I’m
closing out this month strong. There’s just no other option.
Terrible
call with Monday’s complimentary selection on Oklahoma State, which ended a three-game
free-play winning streak. Let’s see if we can get back on track Tuesday, as we
return to the college hardwood and grab the points with Colorado State at San
Diego State.
Tough
spot for the host Aztecs, who are coming off their first defeat of the season,
Saturday's stunning 66-63 setback to UNLV as a 14-point home favorite. Being
the last unbeaten to fall—and the fact it happened so late in the season—makes
SDSU vulnerable to the proverbial letdown. That is, I'd be shocked if the
Aztecs—who were looking to make history by becoming the first Mountain West
Conference team to make it through the season undefeated—took the court tonight
mentally ready to go.
Let's
not forget these are mostly 18- to 22-year-olds, and young men in that age
range tend to struggle to process disappointment and tend to need more than 72
hours to get over shocking results. Usually, when a college hoops team suffers
the kind of a stunning defeat the Aztecs suffered against UNLV, the lack of
focus in the next game tends to show itself on the defensive end of the
court.
Of
course, the Aztecs' defense ranks among the best in the country, but if there
is any kind of letdown, Colorado State has the firepower to take advantage of
it. Going back to a 114-104 triple-overtime victory at Tulsa back on Dec. 21,
the Rams have scored at least 72 points in 13 of 16 games. And even if you
include an 80-56 loss at UNLV exactly a week ago, Colorado State is averaging
77.6 points in its last seven contests, going 5-2 along the way. In fact, since
consecutive Mountain West losses to San Diego State (home) and Boise State
(road) in early December, the Rams are 13-4.
Will CSU add to that victory total tonight? Unlikely, as I think the Aztecs will wake up from their slumber in the second half and pick up the win. They just won't win by enough to cover this big margin. Grab the points.