The San Diego State Aztecs are set to face the Colorado State Rams. Check out our college basketball odds series, which includes our San Diego State Colorado State prediction, odds, and pick.

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San Diego State, even when at its best over the years, has often struggled at the offensive end of the floor. This season has been no exception. The San Diego State Colorado State odds are tilted against the Aztecs because they have bottomed out on offense in some of their high-profile losses, most notably against USC in nonconference play and against Boise State in a 42-37 rockfight from January. If you are thinking about a San Diego State Colorado State prediction, you have to realize that San Diego State just hasn't been that convincing this season in games played away from its home floor, Viejas Arena. SDSU was pounded by Utah State a week ago on the road, and the Aztecs still have to face Wyoming on the Mountain West schedule. In San Diego, this team is always tough to beat, but the Aztecs have a lot to prove about their chops on the road.

Colorado State has run into a rough patch. The Rams' only loss heading into a Friday, Jan. 28 game against UNLV was against San Diego State. The Aztecs dealt CSU its first loss of the season in a 79-49 rout in Viejas in early January. That was one bad game, but it was the only bad game Colorado State had played. College basketball odds experts were high on the Rams heading into the UNLV clash. It was on the Rams' home floor in Moby Arena in Fort Collins.

However, Colorado State sprang a leak on defense and got shredded by Vegas, 88-74. Then the Rams went to Laramie on Monday and gave up 84 more points to Wyoming in a six-point loss. San Diego State isn't a great offensive team. Colorado State isn't a great defensive team. The team which handles its weakness better in this matchup is highly likely to prevail. Think about that point when making your San Diego State Colorado State pick.

Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the San Diego State-Colorado State college basketball odds:

College Basketball odds: San Diego State-Colorado State Odds

San Diego State: +3.5 (-106)

Colorado State: -3.5 (-114)

Over: 134.5 (-110)

Under: 134.5 (-110)

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Why San Diego State Could Cover the Spread

The Colorado State defense is leaky. CSU is also bad at starting games. The Rams have won a number of games late in regulation after mounting a furious comeback from a first-half deficit. That tendency to start slowly has begun to catch up with the Rams. If San Diego State gets a 10-point lead, the Aztecs' defense could carry that lead to the finish line. SDSU was 30 points better than CSU a few weeks ago. Colorado State needs a 34-point turnaround (in the final scoreboard margin) to cover the spread.

Why Colorado State Could Cover the Spread

The San Diego State Aztecs at home are great. The Aztecs on the road are mediocre. Colorado State has lost two in a row and desperately needs to stop that skid. The Rams should play with great energy at home and will score a lot more than they did in the first meeting between these two teams.

Final San Diego State-Colorado State Prediction & Pick

A San Diego State win would not be surprising, but the Aztecs do have to prove they can win big games away from home. We just haven't seen that yet, and we need to. Colorado State gets the benefit of the doubt, but only slightly.

Final San Diego State-Colorado State Pick: Colorado State -3.5 (-114)