The Mountain West developed a reputation for being the NCAA’s deepest mid-major conference during the 2021-22 season. Let’s go over all the available sport betting information and try to find the best NCAAB betting picks!
The top four teams in the league all won 20 or more games overall and 13 or more games in conference play. When the dust settled, Boise State won the regular-season crown while only being separated by two games from the fourth-place team, Wyoming.
Defending champion San Diego State, which has played in the conference tournament finals the previous four years, is seeded third. The Broncos, who will be the top seed, have won six of their final seven games to close the season. Will Boise State be able to ride the momentum to its first-ever tournament title? Or will the rest of the field be able to close the gap in what should be a hotly contested tournament?
Mountain West Tournament Betting Prediction
Broncos have plenty of firepower
Boise State’s success has started on the defensive end of the floor. The Broncos have limited opponents to 60.8 points per game, which ranks 15th nationally. Teams only shoot 32.5 percent from the perimeter against Boise State.
While the defense is stout, the Broncos have plenty of punch on offense. Forward Abu Kigab, who averages 14.7 points per game, leads a group of four Boise State players who average in double figures scoring. Mladen Amus led the Broncos in rebounding, pulling down 7.8 per contest.
Boise State, which is co-favorite with Colorado State and San Diego State to win the tournament at +300 NCAAB odds, have had its share of bizarre performances. The Broncos, who finished the season 24-7 overall and 15-3 in conference play, were limited to 50 points on the road by UC Irvine. Boise State also lost both regular-season meetings to Colorado State by three points.
Colorado State will be a tough out
The Rams, who are 24-4 and 14-4 in the conference, won their first 11 games of the season before being held to 49 points in a 39-point loss to San Diego State in their conference opener. Colorado State’s best non-conference win, amidst a mostly weak slate of competition, was a 74-58 home victory over Saint Mary’s.
The Rams can be caught allowing their opponent to dictate the pace against them. Both of Colorado State’s games with San Diego State were low-scoring, playing to the Aztecs’ paces instead of their own. Similarly, UNLV was able to drag the Rams into a shootout and sweep the season series.
David Roddy leads Colorado State in scoring and rebounding, contributing 19.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Isaiah Stevens also averages 14.8 points per game for the Rams.
SDSU still the boogeyman?
The Aztecs close the season by winning nine of their past 10 to finish the year 21-7 and 13-4 in the conference. San Diego State still plays its trademark defense, ranking second in the country in scoring defense by limiting opponents to 58.3 points per game. The Aztecs only allow their opponents to shoot 37.9 percent from the field, which ranks fourth.
The Aztecs were swept by Boise State in the regular season and split with Colorado State. Guard Matt Bradley is the only Aztecs’ player who averages in double figures scoring, contributing 17.8 points per game.
Rest of the field
Wyoming struggled down the stretch, losing four of its final seven games to fall into fourth place in the conference. The Cowboys do have victories over Boise State and Colorado State. However, Wyoming will also have a tough first-round matchup against another dark horse candidate.
UNLV, which is 18-13 on the season and +700 to win the title, is the only team to have swept Colorado State all season. The Runnin’ Rebels have made remarkable improvements since starting the season 4-5. UNLV has the punch on offense to run away from teams and can bury teams early if they aren’t prepared for their onslaught.
Utah State, the defending Mountain West Conference runner-up, finished seventh in the regular season and is at +700 betting odds to win the crown.
Mountain West Tournament Betting Picks and Prediction
This tournament is going to be brutal, but let’s try our best to come up with some NCAAB expert picks. Every round is going to create potential landmines for the teams trying to navigate to the final.
However, Colorado State seems to have the makeup to take home the trophy. While the Rams have been caught playing to their opponents’ style, they are capable of winning more defensive and offensive-oriented games.
If Colorado State can avoid being caught up in a defensive slop fest with San Diego State in the semifinals, the Rams should have good matchups to the finals.
Colorado State will be able to handle a defensively stout team like Boise State should that matchup resurface, although that would also likely be a close affair as well.
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