How and what to watch for No. 25 San Diego State vs. Fresno State

The No. 25 San Diego State Aztecs (15-4) travel to the Steve Mart Center on Thursday to take on their state-university-system foe, the Fresno State Bulldogs (9-7) in what probably won’t be a close game.

Fresno State (9-7, 7-7 MWC) has had a tough time getting anything going on a consistent basis. They didn’t play their first game until late December due to COVID-related reasons, and have seen their campaign halted multiple times because of the virus. When they are able to get on the floor, they’re doing well against inferior opponents, but SDSU will be a massive test. The Bulldogs are scoring just 67 points per game while giving up the same amount. They’re led by Orlando Robinson who tops the team with 14.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. But this will be a tough hill to climb for Fresno, who are 0-26 in their last 26 games played against AP Top 25 teams.

The Aztecs (15-4, 9-3 MWC) have been playing well recently. They’ve won six games in a row dating back to the middle of January, and none of them have been particularly close. Matt Mitchell and Jordan Schakel consistently find themselves at the top of the stat sheet for SDSU, both averaging close to 15 points per game. The offense as a whole is scoring over 75 points per game while only giving up about 60.

KenPom is giving the Aztecs a 88% chance to come away with a win in this contest.

Game Time/TV Channel/Streaming

You can watch No. 25 San Diego vs. Fresno State on Thursday, February 18 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. You can also view the game via live online stream at CBS Sports Digital and CBS All Access with a cable log-in.

Point Spread, Totals, Odds, Trends

Point spread: SDSU -14
Point Total: 130.5
Money line: SDSU (-1667), Fresno State (+850)

• The total has gone over in four of SDSU’s last six games
• In their last 14 games against Fresno State, SDSU is just 4-10 ATS.
• The total has gone under in all but three of Fresno’s most recent 10 games.

The Best Bet

SDSU should win this game with relative ease, but will Fresno be able to score enough points for the over to hit? That’s where the real question lies in this game. SDSU’s defense will be too stingy for Fresno to score a ton on, but the Aztecs will score a good bit more than their average of 75 on a softer Bulldogs squad.

Pick: Over 130.5

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA/MI), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (NH/CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-888-532-3500 (VA) or call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN). 21+ (18+ NH). CO/IL/IN/IA/NH/NJ/PA/TN/VA/WV/MI only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.