Mountain West Tournament: Fresno State vs. Utah State odds, picks and predictions
The Fresno State Bulldogs (12-20) and Utah State Aggies (26-5) meet in the Mountain West Conference Tournament quarterfinals Thursday at Thomas & Mack in Las Vegas. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Fresno State vs. Utah State odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The 9th-seeded Bulldogs showed Wyoming the door in the 1st round Wednesday, winning 77-73 as 5.5-point underdogs with the Over (137.5) cashing. The victory halted a 7-game losing streak, which included a 77-73 OT loss to Utah State in Fresno as 10.5-point underdogs with the Over (143) hitting.
These teams also met Jan. 20, with Utah State routing Fresno State 83-62 in Logan to cover as 13.5-point favorites, while the Over (143) connected.
Fresno State is just 3-4 against the spread (ATS) in the past 7 games despite the Wednesday cover against Wyoming, with the Over holding a slight 4-3 edge in the same 7-game span.
Top-seeded Utah State finished the regular season with 5 straight wins since a 75-55 loss at Colorado State Feb. 17. Despite the wins, the Aggies are just 1-3 ATS in the past 4 games, while cashing the Over in 3 of the past 4 outings.
Utah State is No. 18 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
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Fresno State vs. Utah State odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:05 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Fresno State +625 (bet $100 to win $625) | Utah State -1000 (bet $1,000 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Fresno State +12.5 (-110) | Utah State -12.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 141.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Fresno State vs. Utah State picks and predictions
Prediction
Utah State 82, Fresno State 66
Moneyline
Utah State (-1000) will cost 10 times the potential return, and there is just no reason to ever bet such a heavy favorite -- as much of a sure thing as it might seem. After all, the Aggies are ranked, with just 5 losses, and the Bulldogs have 20 losses. However, the Feb. 27 meeting should serve as a cautionary tale as Fresno State took Utah State to overtime, and nearly won as a +450 underdog on the moneyline.
PASS.
Against the spread
UTAH STATE -12.5 (-110) is worth a look in its 1st game of this MWC Tourney.
Not only have the Aggies won 4 in a row, and 9 of the past 10 in the series, Utah State has covered 3 of the past 4 meetings, while holding a slight 6-4 ATS edge in the previous 10 installments.
While Fresno State covered and won outright as an underdog Wednesday vs. Wyoming, it is still just 3-4 ATS in the past 7 games.
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Over/Under
OVER 141.5 (-110) might be the best play on the board in this quarterfinals matchup in the MWC Tournament.
The Over cashed for Fresno State against Wyoming Wednesday, and it has a slight 4-3 advantage in the past 7 games.
For Utah State, the Over has connected in 3 of the past 4 outings, with the Aggies racking up 77 or more points in 3 of the past 4 outings, and in 5 of the past 8, while allowing 70 or more points in 3 of the past 4 outings, and 7 of the past 10 contests.
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