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Go With San Diego State To Take Down Another Pac-12 Opponent

· Nov 25 - 5 minutes read

There might be better ways for the California men’s basketball team to attempt to snap a three-game losing streak than going up against San Diego State. The Aztecs are looking for a second straight win over a Pac-12 team after winning a wild overtime game against Washington to capture the Continental Tire Main Event.

When looking at the NCAA basketball predictions, San Diego State is listed as a double-digit favorite in the SoCal Showcase.

Go With San Diego State To Take Down Another Pac-12 Opponent

This is the first meeting between the programs since 2018. San Diego State is 2-3 against the spread and has covered in one of its three games when listed as the favorite. Cal is 2-0 against the college basketball odds as the underdog.

The college basketball betting lines have San Diego State as a 13½-point favorite.

San Diego State is 15-0 outright in its last 15 games when listed as the favorite and 9-0 as a double-digit favorite. However, the Aztecs have failed to cover in five of the last nine games when favored by at least 10 points. Cal has lost its last 11 games as a double-digit underdog but has covered in four of those games.

Guards Devin Askew and Jalen Celestine are both questionable for Cal while forward Devin Curtis and guard Keonte Kennedy are out. Askew and Celestine are two of the five double-digit scorers for the Bears.

For San Diego State, forward Demarshay Johnson Jr. has missed four consecutive games with a shoulder injury and is questionable.

Cal returns to the scene of a concerning episode when the Bears’ No. 2 scorer Fardaws Aimaq confronted a fan after claiming to be subjected to derogatory and racially charged taunts after a game against UTEP in the SoCal Challenge. It is alleged that the fan called Aimaq, the son of Afghan refugees, a terrorist.

The tournament said it is investigating the incident. First-year Cal head coach Mark Madsen has called for the fan to be banned from that venue.

Cal player Fardaws Aimaq climbed into the stands after a game 👀🍿 pic.twitter.com/3LCIhtA2gN

— CBB Content (@CBBcontent) November 22, 2023

Madsen said that Aimaq would be punished for his action but did not say what that would entail.

San Diego State is receiving votes in both national polls.

When looking at the NCAA basketball futures odds, San Diego State is in the top 40 at +2000 in the odds of reaching the Final Four while Cal is well back at +10000 in the odds of reaching the Final Four.

Bears Could Be Shorthanded

Cal ranks outside the top 150 nationally in points, rebounds and field-goal percentage and now the Bears might have to go against San Diego State without two of their top offensive players as Celestine and Askew have each missed three games thus far.

That will put more pressure on leading scorer Jaylon Tyson, who is also the team’s assist leader while Texas Tech transfer Aimaq has three consecutive double-doubles.

Cal is 4-1 against the college basketball odds in its last five games against Mountain West teams.

No Stopping LeDee

The well-traveled Jaedon LeDee seems to have found a home at San Diego State.

After beginning his career at Ohio State and spending two seasons at Texas Christian, LeDee is thriving in his second season at San Diego State.

He is coming off a season-high 34 points in a win over Washington and also had a season-high 17 rebounds in the game for his third game this season with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Second-leading scorer Reese Waters is no stranger to facing Cal as the USC transfer went 3-0 playing against Cal while with the Trojans and had 17 points the last time he faced the Bears.

The Vegas odds total has gone over in six of San Diego State’s last seven games. The total is set at 142½ for this matchup.

Aztecs Look To Take Down Another Pac-12 Foe

Even if Cal had a healthy roster, the Bears might have a hard time staying with San Diego State.

The best bet for the Bears could be the +125 odds of Cal scoring the game’s first points.

This looks like a game when San Diego State can take down another team from a Power-5 conference and make a case that the Aztecs belong in the Top 25 in the national polls,

Cal is 6-2 against the spread in neutral-site games over the last three seasons with San Diego State going 11-10 ATS in those contests so that is something to consider when looking at the NCAA picks today

College Basketball Pick: San Diego State -13½

Bet On This Pick: San Diego State -13½