UC San Diego vs San Diego State Picks and Prediction – 11/7/2024

UC San Diego Tritons visit Viejas Arena in San Diego on Wednesday to play the San Diego State Aztecs in the opening game of the college basketball regular season for both teams. UC San Diego was 21-12 overall and 15-5 in the Big West last season. Eric Olen is the head coach for the Tritons and will have standouts Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones and Tyler McGhie returning from last season. Keep updated with College Basketball with our College Basketball picks.

Tait-Jones was third in scoring last season at 13.6 points per game and the leading rebounding with an average of 5.8 per game. McGhie led the Big West in three-point shooting percentage (41.4%) and was second in scoring for the Tritons at 13.9 points per game. These two will be joined by four others returning from last season as well as seven new players (transfers, freshmen). 

The San Diego State Aztecs finished 26-11 overall and 11-7 in the Mountain West Conference last season. San Diego State lost six players from last season including leading scorer Jaedon LeDee as well as five other players that averaged between 5.1 points and 9.3 points per game. The leading scorer returning from last season is Reese Waters, who averaged 9.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

San Diego State also has two other players returning from last season who averaged between 1.9 and 4.0 points per game. San Diego State added eight players, including four transfers and four freshmen. The transfers are from Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee, Brown, and San Diego. The freshmen include three forwards and one guard. Last season, San Diego State scored an average of 74.1 (156th) points per game and allowed 66.7 (39th) points per game.

The San Diego State Aztecs will begin their regular season with a victory at home over UC San Diego but the play here is UNDER. The UNDER has cashed in seven of San Diego State's last 11 and three of UC San Diego’s last five. Last season, San Diego State held opponents to just 66.7 points per game which was 39th in the country, and expect much of the same this season including on Wednesday. Final Score Prediction, San Diego State Aztecs win but our best play is UNDER 75-42.