(1) UConn vs. (5) San Diego State: Betting Tips, Prediction, and Betting Odds

It’s a rematch of last year’s Championship game between UConn and San Diego State in the Sweet 16 on Thursday. The Aztecs will be out for revenge and the Huskies will look to keep their hot streak rolling.

UConn has been rolling for what seems like a full calendar year now. They destroyed Stetson in the first round and dominated Northwestern in the R32. They are led by All-American guard Tristen Newton. He is averaging 15 points, 7 rebounds, and almost 6 assists per game. He put up a double double against Northwestern and was two assists shy of another one vs. Stetson. Big man Donovan Clingan also had a double double vs. the Wildcats. He will be in for a much tougher matchup vs. Jaedon LeDee.

The Aztecs are coming into this one after a dominant performance vs. Yale on Sunday. LeDee had a monster night, going for 26 points and 9 boards. It is on defense where this team really shines. The Aztecs are 9th in adjusted defensive rating according to KenPom. They rely on their defense to smother teams and convert offensive rebounds into points. That will be difficult to do against this Huskies team.

UConn -10.5 is available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

San Diego State’s defense is great, but UConn’s is not to be messed with either. The Huskies have not given up more than 58 points in a game in three games. They held a great Marquette offense to 57 points in the Big East Championship game. Clingan is a force down low. It will be very difficult for LeDee to get into much of a rhythm on offense.

The Aztecs are not great on the offensive side of the ball. They are 142nd in scoring offense and 292nd in shooting from behind the arc. They mainly count on offensive rebounds in their gameplan. That will be very hard to do against a UConn team who is 8th in the country in rebound margin. The Huskies have won five of their last 6 games by more than 10 points and that should continue here.

Under 145.5 Total Points is available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

After talking up both teams' defenses, it shouldn’t be surprising that the under is the play here. Both teams play at a very slow pace. San Diego State is 224th in pace of play, while UConn is 302nd. The Huskies are capable of winning games in many different ways. This one should be a slugfest. Don’t expect too many points in this one.

Our sports betting experts have got you covered this season. We cover a wide array of College Basketball bets:

• NCAAB Picks
• NCAAB Parlays
• Latest NBA News, Picks & Analysis

We also have a full list of the best Basketball Sportsbooks, plus an NCAAB Sports Betting Guide. Want to get more involved? Follow us on Twitter and be part of the FlashPicks community