Charleston vs San Diego State Odds, Spread & Predictions (March 16)
By Daniel Coyle in College Basketball
- Winning streaks are on the line as San Diego State and College of Charleston clash in South Region actionÂ
- The Aztecs have won 10 of 11 while the Cougars ride a 10-game win streak
- Read on for all the San Diego State vs Charleston odds and picks for of Thursday afternoon at Amway Center
The College of Charleston Cougars (31-3 SU, 19-14 ATS) will be aiming to extend their current SU win streak to 11 games when they take on the San Diego State Aztecs (27-6, 15-16-1) on Friday afternoon in South Region First Round action. The Aztecs make their return to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 12 seed in the South after capping their climb to the top of the Colonial Athletic Association standings with a championship win in last week’s CAA Tournament.
The No. 5 Aztecs are also on a roll, winning four straight, capped by a 62-57 win over Utah State in last weekend’s MWC Tournament final. Start time for Thursday afternoon’s matchup is set for 3:10pm ET at Amway Center in Orlando, with all the action televised on TruTV.
Charleston vs San Diego State Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| [12] Charleston Cougars | +5 (-110) | +190 | O 141.5 (-115) |
| [5] San Diego State | -5 (-110) | -225 | U 141.5 (-105) |
The Aztecs have emerged as 5-point favorites in Thursday’s college basketball odds. The Cougars are listed as +190 underdogs, and the total is pegged at 141.5 with the OVER shortening to -115.
Odds as of March 15, 2023 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Charleston vs San Diego State March Madness History
Friday afternoon’s matchup marks just the second time this teams have met, and their first clash since the Aztecs claimed a decisive 72-52 victory back November 2013. While these teams are coming off impressive campaigns, they both face the daunting challenge of rewriting losing narratives at the Big Dance.
The Aztecs have bowed out in the first round in each of their past four First Round appearances, capped by last year’s 72-69 loss to Creighton as 2.5-point chalk. The Cougars are winless in three straight opening-round appearances since reaching the Second Round as a 12-seed back in 1997, and have averaged just 56 points over those three defeats.
Cougars Attack Finding a Higher Gear
Pegged at No. 73 in the overall Kenpom rankings, Charleston has found a higher gear on offense during their current 10-0 SU run. The Cougars have averaged an impressive 83.6 points per game, and rank 14th in the nation with 80.8 points scored per game this season.
Charleston's going dancing đź•ş
The Cougars (-550 ML) take down UNCW to take the CAA Title and improve to 31-3 overall 🔥pic.twitter.com/U0gXSjeoJS
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) March 8, 2023
The squad has bolstered those numbers with steady performances from beyond the arc. They have averaged 10.1 threes per game, ninth most in the nation, and have converted on 33.4% od attempts. One of five Charleston shooters averaging double digits, Dalton Bolton has led the attack with a team-high 12.3 points per game, but was held off the scoresheet in the team’s 63-58 win over UNC-Wilmington in last week’s CAA Tournament final.
Aztecs Exceling on Defense
The Aztecs enjoyed an impressive march to a third straight Big West crown on the strength of one of the nation’s stingiest defenses. Currently enjoying a steady 23-4 SU run, San Diego State has limited opponents to 60 or fewer points on 13 occasions over that stretch. And in addition to ranking 29th in the nation in points allowed and 10th in adjusted defensive efficiency at Kenpom, the Aztecs have regularly rewarded sports bettors taking the UNDER, which has paid out in 10 of their past 11 contests.
While the Aztecs have not demonstrated the ability to consistently run up the score, they have received steady offensive production from leading scorer Matt Bradley. The lone Aztecs shooter to average double digits this season, Bradley averaged 12.3 points at last week’s Big West Tournament, and 13.3 points per game over his past 10 outings.
Charleston vs San Diego State Prediction
Friday’s matchup is shaping up as a classic clash between a prolific offense and stingy defense. Both teams enter the Big Dance in good health. And while the Cougars have enjoyed an epic run down the stretch, it is tough to overlook the experience the Aztecs have gained from making appearances in the past two editions of the NCAA Tournament. That should be enough to finally put this veteran-laden team over the top, but by the slimmest of margins.
The Pick: Charleston +5 (-110); UNDER 141.5 (-105)
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Other first round March Madness picks:
Sports Writer
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
