NCAAB Odds, Pick for Boise State vs Colorado State

Colorado State and Boise State meet at Moby Arena on Tuesday night to renew a longtime Mountain West rivalry. The Broncos won the previous matchup at home, and they enter this rematch tied with Utah State atop the Mountain West standings.

Meanwhile, the Rams are always tough to beat in Fort Collins, with only one loss on the year and none in league play. Add in the fact that this is a great resume builder for The Big Dance, and this should be a great contest in the Mountain West.

After back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament, coach Leon Rice has his program in the running to win a regular-season conference title for the first time since 2015. His team also boasts five Quad 1 victories, which should have Boise State in the hunt for an invitation back to The Big Dance.

Although the Broncos have been stout at home, they have also been very good on the road. They are the only team in the Mountain West still unbeaten on the road in conference play, defeating San Jose State, Nevada, Fresno State and New Mexico away from home.

This is a very deep and veteran roster for Rice to use at his disposal. Four players average in double figures in scoring, which should make Boise State a tough out come tournament time.

Colorado State was rolling coming into conference play with just one loss. However, the Rams have run into some roadblocks in their tough conference.

If there is one thing to be positive about, all of those defeats in league play have come away from home. Coach Niko Medved’s team also just has one loss to a Quad 3 or 4 opponent on its resume.

The Rams are led by one of the best guards in the country in Isaiah Stevens. He comes into this game ranked in the top 5 among active players in career points and assists and is also on multiple award watchlists.

Another key performer has been Nique Clifford. The Colorado transfer is averaging 13.8 points and seven rebounds per game to go along with shooting over 59% from the field.

This is a huge matchup for a pair of even teams who have aspirations of winning the Mountain West and making a deep run in March, but I don’t see as much of a difference between the two as the spread indicates. So, my best bet is to back Boise State at +5.5, which I would play to +4.

Whenever you go on the road in conference play, it is tough no matter what league you play in. However, the Broncos have been one of the best at picking up results away from home. In fact, BartTorvik ranks Boise State as the best road team in the Mountain West since the start of league play. The Broncos would also rank inside the top 25 in the country if you account for all teams in a road conference game. Besides being 4-0 straight up away from home in the Mountain West, Rice’s squad is also 3-1 against the spread, with the three covers all coming as an underdog.

Meanwhile, this is a Colorado State team that has not been very profitable for bettors. In their nine conference games, the Rams have only covered the number three times.

I just feel this is too many points for a team that has already shown they can cash a ticket as a road underdog.

Pick: Boise State +5.5 (Play to +4)