It will be a battle between MWC opponents when the Colorado State Rams (10-13, 3-7 MWC) welcome the Wyoming Cowboys (14-7, 5-3 MWC) to Moby Arena. The game starts at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 31, 2018.
Wyoming is a 3.5-point favorite on the opening line, while the game’s Over/Under (O/U) opened at 152.5 points.
Wyoming Cowboys at Colorado State Rams Free Prediction
The Cowboys will be looking for similar success after topping the San Jose State Spartans in their last game, 90-86. Wyoming forced the Spartans into a turnover percentage of 22.0 (above the 16.9 mark opponents have averaged against Wyoming this season). San Jose State, on the other hand, held the Cowboys to an offensive rebounding percentage of 14.6 (below their season average of 19.8). Wyoming was lifted by Justin James, who led the team in scoring with 33 points on 11-for-20 shooting.
In the Rams’ last matchup, they fell to the New Mexico Lobos, 80-65. New Mexico’s turnover percentage was their biggest strength over Colorado State. The Lobos had a rate of 10.4 (better than their season average of 14.8), while the Rams posted a mark of 30.1 (above their season average of 15.8). With 14 points and 15 rebounds, Nico Carvacho put together a solid performance for Colorado State.
It will be a battle of contrasting styles as the up-tempo Cowboys (ranked eighth in the NCAA in possessions per game) will look to push the slower-paced Rams (161st in possessions per game).
Wyoming comes into the contest with records of 14-7 straight up (SU) and 9-10 against the spread (ATS). Of the Cowboys’ 19 games that accepted bets, 12 have finished over the total.
Meanwhile, Colorado State is 10-13 SU and 6-12-1 ATS. Rams games also tend to finish over the O/U total (57.9 percent).
Both teams have had a player step their game up over their last five games. James (21.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists) has been stellar for the Cowboys while Carvacho (13.8 rebounds and 10.0 points) has contributed greatly to the Rams.
This is the second game of the season between these two teams. In the first, the Cowboys lost 78-73, unable to cover as 7-point favorites. Hayden Dalton led both teams with 18 points and also recorded 12 rebounds. The game finished with a total of 151 points, which was just 2.5 points above the projected point total of 148.5 points. Colorado State had a much better offensive rebounding percentage (35.1 vs. 23.1). Wyoming, meanwhile, did a terrific job of getting and making free throws (31-42; 73.8 percent).
Wyoming Cowboys vs. Colorado State Rams Free Pick
Free Pick: SU Winner – Colorado State, ATS Winner – Colorado State, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes:
Wyoming is 5-5 ATS on the road with 6 unders and 4 overs.
At home, Colorado State is 3-4-1 ATS with 5 unders and 3 overs.
Wyoming ranks 52nd in three pointers attempted per game (25.5) while Colorado State ranks 265th in three pointers allowed per game (26.2).
The Rams rank 73rd in rebounds per game (37.8) while the Cowboys rank 273rd in rebounds allowed per game (39.6).
Wyoming ranks 87th in assists per game (14.9) while Colorado State ranks 212th in assists allowed per game (15.3).
The Cowboys are 23rd in the NCAA with 2.4 blocks allowed per game while the Rams are 26th with 2.5 blocks allowed per game.
Betting Trends:
In their last five games, Wyoming is 2-3 ATS with 4 overs and 1 under.
Colorado State is 1-3-1 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders over their last five games.
The Cowboys have been outscored by an average of 0.2 points in their last five games. On the season, Wyoming has defeated opponents by an average of 1.4 points.
During their last five games, the Rams have scored an average of 73.2 points per game (1.7 above their season average) and allowed an average of 81.0 points per game (4.3 above their season average).
