Aztecs and Rams clash in Fort Collins: San Diego St at Colorado St

San Diego St Aztecs at Colorado St Rams, Moby Arena, Fort Collins, CO
Wednesday, February 2, 2011, 9:15 pm Eastern, TV: CBS College Sports
Opening Line: SDSU -5 1/2
Current Line: SDSU -5
Opening Total: 137
Current Total: 137
Money Line: SDSU -220 / CSU +180

San Diego St travels to Fort Collins to take on Mountain West foe Colorado St. San Diegho St is a 5 point favorite in the match-up.

Last week San Diego St lost at BYU for their first loss of the season 71-58. BYU then lost at New Mexico 86-77 in their next game. It just goes to show how difficult the Mountian West Conference is. It is rated as the fourth best conference in the country, even higher than the powerful SEC and Pac 10 conferences. Both San Diego St and BYU are in the top ten and UNLV has been in and out of the top 25 this season. Even New Mexico and Colorado St have a good chance to go to the NIT if they don’t win the conference tournament. San Diego St is 21-1 overall and 6-1 in conference. The # 6 or #7 Aztecs travel to Fort Collins to take on the 15-6 Colorado St Rams who are 5-2 in the Mountain West. The Aztecs have wins over Gonzaga, St. Mary’s (CA), Wichita St, Cal, TCU, Utah, UNLV, New Mexico, Air Force, and Wyoming. The Aztecs took their frustrations of losing to BYU out on the hapless Wyoming Cowboys and destroyed them 96-57 Saturday night in San Diego. The Rams have losses to Sam Houston St, Colorado, Kansas, Hampton, New Mexico and BYU. The Rams won at Utah 74-68 Saturday in their last game. They have additional wins over Drake, Fresno St, Ole, Miss, Southern Miss, Wyoming, TCU, UNLV, and Air Force. Colorado St leads the overall series 35-29 but San Diego St has won 7 straight in the series. Colorado St has gone 3-2 ATS in the last three games against the Aztecs. Three of those five have also gone under the total. The Aztecs are 31-20 in all games the last 2 seasons. SDSU is 39-20 ATS as a favorite the last three seasons. The Aztecs are 8-2 ATS versus teams with winning records this season.

San Diego St has no significant injuries. The Aztecs are led by Kawhi Leonard. He is averaging a double double with 15.3 points, and 10.3 rebounds to lead the team in each category. He also averages 2.7 assists and leads the team in steals with 1.4 a game. Senior point guard D.J. Gay is averaging 12.3 points, 2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists to lead the team. Forward Malcolm Thomas averages 11.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and leads the team in blocks with 2.3 a game. San Diego St is outscoring opponents 74-59 on the season. The Aztecs shoot 48.8% from the field and 35.6% from 3-point range. Aztec opponents are shooting 39.7% from the field. SDSU makes 66.4% of their free throws. The Aztecs average 36.6 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +6.6. San Diego St averages 14.4 assists and 11.1 turnovers a game. SDSU forces 12.7 turnovers a game on defense. The Aztecs average 6.1 steals and 4.9 blocks a game.

Colorado St guard Wes Eikmeier is listed as probable with a foot injury. The Rams are led by forward Andy Ogide. He is averaging 16.1 points, and 7.5 rebounds a game. He leads the team in both categories. Forward Travis Franklin is averaging 15 points, 5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.4 steals a game to lead the team. Eikmeier averages 10.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. Dorian Green leads the team in assists with 2.9 a game. The Rams are outscoring opponents 76-69 on the season. CSU shoots 49.2% from the field and 36.8% from 3-point range. Ram opponents shoot 44% from the field. Colorado St makes 68.3% of their free throws. The Rams average 33.1 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +0.9. They average 14.2 assists and 13.6 turnovers a game. CSU forces 14.7 turnovers a game on defense. The rams average 7.6 steals and 2.4 blocks a game.

Though the altitude and remote location of Fort Collins make it a very tough place to play, San Diego St has won 5 times in a row at Colorado St. They have made Moby Arena almost a second home. San Diego St needs this win to keep pace with BYU for the conference lead. BYU plays last palce Wyoming tonight. Colorado St is in sole possession of third place in the conference, a game ahead of UNLV. I think it will be close, but the Aztecs have simply too much for the Rams.