Posted at 1:30 PM EST. Odds subject to change.

Pinnacle  +120 BET365  +115 Sportsinteraction   +115  888Sport  +115

Lawlor Events Center, Reno, NV

San Diego State +120 over Nevada

Streaming: CBS Sports Network

8:00 PM EST. On the surface, this looks like an even matchup between a pair of programs that are enjoying a tremendous amount of success in advance of the NCAA Tournament. First up are the Wolf Pack of Nevada, who at 18-5, are on the bubble for the selection committee's consideration for an at-large bid to March Madness. The Wolf Pack were not pegged to contend for an NCAA appearance, as they were tabbed to finish in the middle of the Mountain West standings, but Nevada is closing in on 20 wins, which includes an impressive 11-1 mark at home in Reno.

Here’s where the “yeah, but” comes in, as the Wolf Pack have feasted on the fat with a weak non-conference schedule that ranks 226-of-262 programs in Division I hoops. The Wolf Pack have very few quality wins, with most of their victories coming against weak competition like Sacramento State (326), Pacific (345), Portland (303), Hawai’i (178), Temple (247), and Fresno Pacific (non-DI school). That weak non-conference schedule has not served the Wolf Pack well in Mountain West play, as they are just 5-4 and sit sixth in the conference, 1½-games back of Boise State, New Mexico, Utah State, and their opponents tonight, the Aztecs of San Diego State.

By contrast, the Aztecs have played one of the most difficult schedules in the nation, ranking ninth (of 362 schools), which makes their 18-5 record far more impressive than that of Nevada’s. San Diego State has wins over the #13 Gonzaga, as well as the #17 Utah State, as well as quality victories against Saint Mary’s (26), Washington (61), Stanford (93), UNLV (99), and they already beat Nevada (48), 71-59, back in the middle of January. The Aztecs were a -6½-point favorite in that game, but tonight they are an underdog after going just 2-3 since that double-digit win. However, those defeats came on the road to Boise State (51) and Colorado State (32), neither of which is a bad loss. SDSU lost by just one point to Boise and eight to Colorado State.

This game is a prime example of what we are talking about when we say that “all records in college hoops are not created equal.” The Aztecs are as legit as they come, and they are being offered up here at bargain basement prices. The value to be had here on the superior side is tremendous, and we are not going to pass it up.

Sherwood

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