Saturday's Play...
My 100 Dime Winner I am releasing is: SAN DIEGO STATE, covering College Hoops action against Brigham Young. As I release this selectaion at 2 a.m. Pacific, the line is currenthy -3 both here in Las Vegas and at the offshore books.
TODAY'S ANALYSIS
This is San Diego State's biggest home game in school history.
The Aztecs' only loss in 28 games came to BYU. They were shot out of the gym by Jimmer Fredette.
Fredette made a number of incredible shots in scoring 43 points against San Diego State. The Aztecs aren't going to let it happen again, especially playing in their own gym where they are 14-0.
San Diego State has the seventh-best defense in the nation holding foes under 59 points a game. Fredette has been bothered by a bruised left calf muscle. Only once in his last six games has Fredette scored more than 30 points.
Fredette wasn't at 100 percent when BYU defeated Colorado State, 84-76, this past Wednesday night. He missed 17 of 26 shots from the floor and committaed seven turnovers. The Cougars turned the ball over 19 times against the Rams.
That kind of sloppy play won't cut it against San Diego State, which is the more rested team having last played a week ago. The Aztecs are the better and more athletic team despite their earlier loss to BYU.
BYU is reliant on Fredette. He needs to come up big. But he's less than 100 percent and this is a quick turnaround game. The Aztecs are holding opponents to 39.3 percent shooting from the field, which ranks 15th-best in the nation.
The Aztecs are even better defenshvely at Viejas Arena holding foes to 55.6 points per game and 38.7 percent shooting.