10:35 pm
November 25

#22 UCLA @ San Diego State

Who will WIN this matchup?

#22 UCLA Bruins (0-0)

@ San Diego State Aztecs (0-0)

 

Current odds:

UCLA Bruins: (-150)

San Diego State Aztecs: (+130)

 

• The line for this game is UCLA by 3 points.

• The 22nd-ranked Bruins will rely on their wealth of experience when UCLA opens the season Wednesday against host San Diego State at Viejas Arena in San Diego. The Bruins, who finished 19-12 last season, return five starters and added a key transfer in 6-foot-6 shooting guard Johnny Juzang, who saw limited playing time at Kentucky last season.

• UCLA is led by senior shooting guard Chris Smith, who was named the Pac-12 Conference’s Most Improved Player of the Year last season after averaging a team-high 13.1 points and 5.4 rebounds. Smith averaged 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds as a sophomore. Smith declared for the NBA Draft last spring, but withdrew his name in August.

• San Diego State was 30-2 last year and expected to earn a high seed in the NCAA Tournament before the season was cut short by the coronavirus outbreak. The Aztecs are rebuilding this season, however. Malachi Flynn, the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, departed for the NBA and was drafted in the first round by the Toronto Raptors. Yanni Wetzell transferred to Vanderbilt and fellow senior K.J. Feagin is reportedly pursuing a professional career in Germany.

• San Diego State will look to senior shooting guard Matt Mitchell, a first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection last season after averaging 12.2 points, on offense and to also contain Smith. Mitchell also declared for the NBA Draft, but returned for his senior season.

• The Bruins have another 6-6 shooting guard in sophomore Jaime Jaquez Jr., whose physical style of play should come in handy against Mitchell.

• Jalen Hill also gives the Bruins good size up front. The 6-foot-10 junior averaged 9.0 points and 6.9 rebounds last season. He’ll likely be matched against San Diego State’s Nathan Mensah, who missed most of last season with a pulmonary embolism, but is considered one of the best defensive frontcourt players in the Mountain West.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
#22 UCLA Bruins
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