Hey now—our first trip out to the Mountain West on Conference Championship Week! Something to celebrate, as we’ve covered just about six other conferences before we had the pleasure of hitting the MW. It’s just your straightforward Round 1 matchup here—the Wyoming Cowboys and the San Jose State Spartans face off in the Thomas Mack Center at the University of Nevada. As with the rest of my columns, I’ll run through my preview, prediction, pick, and best bet for this first-round college basketball game between Wyoming and San Jose State in the Mountain West.
Here’s how I intend to play Wednesday’s first Mountain West clash. I’ll be picking individual games throughout the week, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more to-the-minute, point-of-need analyses and plays throughout conference tournament week.
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San Jose State vs. Wyoming preview, prediction
In a season full of them, Wyoming could be in for another tough day. The Spartans took both regular-season meetings between these two programs, including an 82-73 win in their most recent showdown, where Josh Uduje torched the Cowboys for a season-high 29 points. Given the trends, it’s hard to see Wyoming flipping the script now.
Wyoming limps into this game on a four-game losing streak, capping off a brutal Mountain West season with a 5-15 conference record and a 12-19 overall mark. They’ve struggled on both ends of the floor, averaging just 68.5 points per game while shooting a mediocre 43% from the field and 32% from beyond the arc. Defensively, they’ve been even worse, allowing opponents to put up 72.3 points per game on 46% shooting overall and 35% from deep. That defense has been especially leaky in recent weeks, with Wyoming surrendering 75 points per game over its last five contests—well above their season average. Their offense, which wasn’t stellar to begin with, has dipped even further, managing just 65 points per game over that same stretch. Simply put, the Cowboys have been trending in the wrong direction at the worst possible time.
Meanwhile, San Jose State enters with a slightly better 14-18 record (7-13 in the Mountain West) and has been far more competitive throughout the season. The Spartans score at a higher clip than Wyoming, putting up 71.2 points per game on 45% shooting while holding opponents to 70.1 points on 44% shooting. Unlike Wyoming, they’ve been playing close to their season-long numbers down the stretch, maintaining a steady offensive output and keeping their defensive efficiency intact. Over their last five games, they’ve still averaged around 71 points per game while limiting opponents to just over 69—right in line with their season trends.
Wyoming at San Jose State pick, best bet
What don’t we like betting on in the first round of these conference tournaments? Say it with me, now: Teams who consistently put themselves in tough spots. The beginning of a brand new tournament bracket is a fresh start for a team like Wyoming, but, on the other side of the same coin, it’s also just another opportunity to fall into the same bad patterns, an extension of a slog of a season. Especially on a spread this small.
San Jose State has already beaten Wyoming twice this season, winning 84-64 at home and 74-69 on the road, and there’s little reason to expect a different outcome here. The Spartans have the more reliable scorers, a stronger track record against quality opponents, and Wyoming’s defense hasn’t shown the ability to slow them down.
San Jose State covers the spread and sends Wyoming home ignominiously, ending—but yet somehow extending—the Cowboys’ nightmare season.
Best bet: San Jose State -1 (-112)
Tail the Spartans to put Wyoming out of their misery in Round 1 of the MW Tourney with me in the DKN Betting Group here!
Want to approach your March Madness Bracket with the same precision as the top 1% of bracket pool winners? Check out what the PoolGenius optimizer has to offer!
