Four Mountain West games highlight Friday’s college basketball slate
Boise State vs. Fresno State is the game of the night
Contact/Follow @addisondehaven3 & @MWCwire
Betting primer for tonight’s four Mountain West games
Friday nights during the college basketball season are predictably quiet as Saturdays are often home to massive, 100+ game slates. However, all eyes will be on the Mountain West tonight, with four conference games, one being a standalone, marquee matchup between Boise St. and Fresno St.
LOVE the way the Mountain West has carved out real estate on Friday nights, with a standalone game at 11 PM ET.
Which non power conference is NEXT?
Getting tougher and tougher to stand out from the top six leagues.
Innovation.
Forward Thinking.
Transcend!
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 28, 2022
Here’s a quick betting primer to get you set for tonight’s four game slate.
Wyoming vs. Air Force – Clune Arena
When: 5 p.m. MT
How to watch: Mountain West Network
Wyoming will head south on I-25 to take on Air Force. Wyoming comes in off a tough, hard fought loss at Boise St. Tuesday night. Before the 65-62 loss, the Cowboys had been riding a 4 game conference win streak and were starting to get into the NCAA Tournament conversation. Wyoming will look to rebound toight at middling Air Force. The Falcons are coming off a 10 point road win at San Jose St.
The spread: The line opened with Wyoming as an 8.5 point favorite but has quickly been bet down to 7.5. This means one of two things: either “sharps” have bet Air Force or money has been bet on Air Force (both these things can be true as well). Regardless, somewhere with some influence likes Air Force tonight.
The total: The total opened at 129.5 but currently sits at 126.5. This could be a reaction to Wyoming’s rock fight in Boise and Air Force’s preference to play methodical limit possessions.
Wyoming hasnt seen zone since UW game, where they had their 2nd worst offensive performance of the year, and it's a horrible spot in the schedule for Pokes. Wouldnt be shocked to see USAFA sneak in a win https://t.co/RzYaf3GHiw
— Jordan Majewski (@jorcubsdan) January 28, 2022
This one could be ugly. Considering Wyoming’s lack of recent exposure to zone defense and Air Force’s style, we could be in for another rockfight. However, Wyoming could be getting back Xavier DuSell, who has not played since the middle of January.
Wyoming's Xavier DuSell (hamstring) is a game-time decision for today's game against Air Force, per Jeff Linder.
Has not played since 1/15.
Averages 10.8 PPG.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 28, 2022
UNLV vs. Colorado State – Moby Arena
When: 7 p.m. MT
How to watch: FS1
The 16-1 Rams will play host to the Runnin Rebels in Fort Collins. The Rams used a late second-half surge to beat (and cover!) vs. Nevada on Tuesday night. UNLV, who was boat raced 80-55 vs. San Diego St. on Monday night, will look to shake off a tough loss.
The spread: Colorado St. opened as 11.5 point favorites, but the line has quickly ballooned to 15. It would seem as though everyone and their mother likes the Rams to cover at home tonight. This could be because of some injury news and some comments made in the postgame following the loss to SDSU.
All UNLV talked about after the SDSU game was how tired they were, so Im not sure altitude and being shorthanded is going to take care of that. I get what youre saying about CSU for sure, but I'd have a hard time backing UNLV tonight https://t.co/qzB9dCUGut
— Jordan Majewski (@jorcubsdan) January 28, 2022
The total: The total opened up at 141.5 and has slightly ticked up in some places to 142.
According to KenPom, Colorado St. plays at the 208th fastest tempo in the country while UNLV plays at the 161st. The last three home games for the Rams have seen the total land above 140, while UNLV’s last three road games have seen the total finish under 140. If UNLV is without a few starters, this could be a rerun of Tuesday’s game for the Rebels – only worse.
UNLV's Royce Hamm (illness) will be available for today's game against Colorado State, per Kevin Kruger.
Hamm averages 8.6 PPG and 9.9 RPG.
Josh Baker (concussion), Donovan Williams (knee), and Marvin Coleman (illness) are OUT.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 28, 2022
San Jose State vs. New Mexico – The Pit
When: 7 p.m. MT
How to watch: Mountain West Network
Tim Miles will take his San Jose St. Spartans into the Pit for the first time in tonight’s conference bout vs. Richard Pitino’s New Mexico Lobos. Last time out, the Spartans fell at home to Air Force while New Mexico nearly knocked off Fresno St. Both squads are still looking for their first conference win.
The spread: Despite having not won a single conference game this year, the Lobos opened as 9.5 point favorites and that line has actually ticked up to 10.
The total: Opened 147.5 but has ticked down to 145 in some spots.
The Spartans are at New Mexico tomorrow‼️
🎥| @CoachMiles has your keys to the game…#SpartanUp | #RunToTheFight pic.twitter.com/RS8O3iMkBx
— San Jose State Men’s Basketball (@SanJoseStateMBB) January 28, 2022
If we are ranking games for tonight, this is fourth in terms of interest. However, reading between the lines with Miles’ comments suggest that we could be in for an up and down affair.
Boise State vs. Fresno State – Save Mart Center
When: 9 p.m. MT
How to watch: FS1/FuboTV — get a free trial
The marquee matchup, not only in the Moutain West, but for all of college basketball on Friday night. In late December, the Bulldogs fell to Boise St. 65-55, kickstarting the Broncos current conference winning streak. Will Fresno St. get some revenge on their home floor tonight?
The spread: The line opened with the Bulldogs as slight favorites (-1) but has flipped to the Broncos being (-2) slight favorites. Why? Orlando Robinson, Fresno St.’s 7 ft. big man, apparently suffered an ankle injury in the game vs. New Mexico. The line movement suspects that Robinson’s injury may be faily limiting. On the Boise St. side, they may be without guard Marcus Shaver.
Unfortunately it carries a big asterisk if Big O is limited, which he almost surely is. Arguably the most valuable player in D1. Boise potentially without Shaver doesn’t even offset that https://t.co/qTN536Hrct
— Jordan Majewski (@jorcubsdan) January 28, 2022
The total: This opened impossibly low, 116, and was immediately bet up to 118.5-119, where it now hovers. Both Boise St. and Fresno St. have been playing tough, low possession, low scoring contests but this feels a little too low. Obviously, the injury to Robinson will have some effect on the Bulldog’s scoring output but more so, could have an even greater effect on the defensive end.
Best bets for tonight:
Air Force +7.5
New Mexico/SJSU Over 145
Fresno St./Boise St. Over 119
Let’s see some points tonight. As always gamble responsibly.
