New Mexico vs Colorado State Baskeball Prediction and Picks: Conference Contenders Meet to Open Mountain West Play

After a feather-light slate to begin the new year, today’s college basketball schedule has a lot more substance. There aren’t any matchups between a pair of ranked teams, but there are several eye-catching encounters to look forward to. The best one of the bunch might be the last game of the night, which sees New Mexico visit #13 Colorado State in the Mountain West opener for both teams (10:30 pm ET, FS1).

Both the Lobos and Rams are 12-1, with the same team, Saint Mary’s, being responsible for each team’s lone blemish. But only CSU is ranked, while UNM is one of three Mountain West teams receiving votes in this week’s AP poll, along with San Diego State and Nevada.

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How the two teams have arrived at this point has a lot to do with that. New Mexico’s best wins this season are at home against UC Irvine (66th in the NET) and Louisiana Tech (74th), while Colorado State has neutral site wins over Creighton (14th) and Washington (57th) and a home win over Colorado (30th), as well as a home win over Louisiana Tech and a neutral site win over Boston College (75th).

Tonight offers an opportunity for Richard Pitino’s Lobos (35th in the NET) to show that they are on the same level as the Rams (15th), who will be looking to add another quality win to their March Madness resume.

New Mexico vs Colorado State Odds

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline. If you’re interested in trying them out, we recommend checking out our BetOnline review.

Spread

• New Mexico +3.5 (-110)
• Colorado State -3.5 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 156.5 (-110)
• Under 156.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• New Mexico +155
• Colorado State -175

Last Five Games for New Mexico

• Eastern New Mexico (12/29 – home): won 87-54
• UC Irvine (12/20 – home): won 78-65
• New Mexico State (12/15 – away): won 73-72
• Santa Clara (12/9 – Jack Jones Classic/Henderson, NV): won 93-76
• UC Santa Barbara (12/6 – home): won 84-61

Last Five Games for Colorado State

• Adams State (12/29 – home): won 106-61
• Loyola Marymount (12/22 – away): won 76-67
• Colorado State Pueblo (12/17 – home): won 86-54
• Saint Mary’s (12/9 – home): lost 64-61
• Denver (12/6 – home): won 90-80

Players to Watch for New Mexico

• Jamal Mashburn Jr.: 18.0 PPG
• Donovan Dent: 16.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.8 SPG
• Jaelen House: 15.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 4.0 APG, 2.8 SPG
• JT Toppin: 12.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 68.7% FG

Players to Watch for Colorado State

• Isaiah Stevens: 17.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 7.3 APG, 53.6% FG, 45.8% 3PT
• Nique Clifford: 13.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 59.3% FG, 52.9% 3PT
• Patrick Cartier: 12.8 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 60.8% FG, 51.6% 3PT, 90.9% FT
• Joel Scott: 12.2 PPG, 5.8 RPG

New Mexico vs Colorado State Prediction and Picks

When the Lobos lost to Saint Mary’s in their second game of the season, they were without Jaelen House due to hip issues, and Jamal Mashburn Jr. went only 3 of 16 from the field against the Gaels.

House missed five games before returning to action at the end of November, by which Mashburn had begun what would be a seven-game injury layoff of his own.

Both players are back in action now, and we should see the Lobos in their best form tonight in Fort Collins. But will they be able to guide New Mexico to a win at Moby Arena?

The Lobos don’t shoot the lights out by any means (46.1% FG, 34.6% 3PT, 68.2% FT). But they play at a high tempo and generate a lot of scoring opportunities, and they hit the offensive glass at a respectable rate (65th in Division I). As a result, they have hit the 80-point mark nine times this season.

However, they are going up against one of the best shooting teams in the country in Colorado State, who is shooting 53.2% from the field overall, 38.8% from three, and 77.3% from the foul line. The Rams, who are averaging 84.7 PPG and rank 11th in Division I in adjusted offensive efficiency, have scored 80+ points ten times, falling short against only Creighton, Saint Mary’s, and Loyola Marymount.

Points should be aplenty in this must-see matchup between two highly talented squads, but when the clock hits all zeroes, the Rams should be walking off of the court victorious.

UNM vs CSU Prediction: Colorado State to win

UNM vs CSU Picks: New Mexico/Colorado State over 156.5 & Colorado State -3.5 (Both -110 at BetOnline – Bet these plays and get a 100% BONUS on your first cryptocurrency deposit)

Player Prop Picks for UNM vs CSU: Jaelen House (New Mexico) over 23.5 points + rebounds + assists & Isaiah Stevens (Colorado State) over 17.5 points (Both -115 at Bovada – Bet these lines and get a 75% WELCOME BONUS if your first deposit is via crypto)

Why these two prop picks? House has gone over this number for points + rebounds + assists four times in eight games this season, including each of his last two.

Stevens, meanwhile, has scored 18 or more points nine times, and each time he has scored fewer than 18, he has scored 18 or more in the following game. Last time out, he scored 13 points in 22 minutes against Adams State. It wasn’t for a lack of accuracy, as he was 5 of 5 from the field, including 3 of 3 from three. Look for him to have a big night tonight.

Where to Bet on College Basketball

If you are looking for college basketball odds, you will always be spoiled for choice.

Sports betting sites all over the internet offer a vast array of NCAA basketball odds throughout the season, from the opening tip in November to the conclusion of the season in early April.

Along with being able to bet on games like Nevada vs Hawaii, many online sportsbooks offer men’s college basketball national championship odds, women’s college basketball national championship odds, men’s Wooden Award odds, women’s Wooden Award odds, and odds on who will win early season and conference tournaments.

Below are some of the books that we highly recommend for college basketball betting:

• BetDSI
• BetOnline
• BetUS
• Bookmaker
• Bovada
• MyBookie
• Sportsbetting.ag

If you don’t have an account at a book on this list, check out our reviews to help you determine if it is worth your interest and your betting funds.

Other College Basketball Content

• NCAA Basketball Best Bets for 1/2/2024
• Best College Basketball Spread & Total Picks for 1/2/2024
• College Basketball Betting Guide
• Men’s Wooden Award Winner Odds
• Women’s Wooden Award Winner Odds