On December 30, 2023, the San Diego State Aztecs will visit the San Jose State Spartans for a pivotal matchup in the Mountain West Conference. The Aztecs, with a record of 7-4 and 1-0 in conference play, are favored by 11.5 points against the Spartans, who sit at 5-7 and are winless in the conference at 0-1. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
San Diego State enters this game having recently experienced a mixed performance. They suffered a significant defeat to No. 1 ranked Arizona, losing 68-45 on December 20. However, they rebounded with an impressive victory over Division III Whittier, achieving a dominant 121-59 win on December 22. Prior to these games, the Aztecs commenced their final Mountain West season by defeating Air Force 81-58 at home on December 17.
Recent Performance and Historical Context
The Aztecs have been projected as the frontrunners for the regular-season Mountain West title, especially as they prepare to transition to the Pac-12 next season. In contrast, San Jose State was anticipated to struggle this season, being picked to finish 10th in the conference.
Historically, San Diego State has dominated the matchup against San Jose State, leading the series 51-35. The Aztecs have not lost to the Spartans in their last 15 encounters, regardless of location. Under the guidance of head coach Brian Dutcher, who has been at the helm for eight seasons, San Diego State holds a remarkable 21-1 record against SJSU during the Mountain West era.
Dutcher’s teams have also performed well in San Jose, winning all five meetings there with an average margin of victory of 7.8 points. However, the last two games at the Event Center have seen the winning margin tighten to just 3.0 points, indicating a potential shift in competitiveness.
Betting Lines and Trends
For those following the betting lines, the latest odds from FanDuel Sportsbook indicate that San Diego State is -11.5, with an over/under set at 144.5 points. The moneyline shows San Diego State at -750 and San Jose State at +520. Notably, San Diego State’s overall record stands at 7-4, with a 3-7 mark against the spread, while San Jose State is 5-7 overall and 6-5 against the spread.
This game marks the final meeting between these two teams this season, as the Mountain West Conference has adopted an unbalanced schedule due to the addition of Grand Canyon, meaning San Jose State will not visit Viejas Arena this year.
As the Aztecs prepare for this crucial match, fans will be eager to see if they can extend their dominance over the Spartans and further solidify their position in the conference standings. For those who may have concerns about gambling, support is available by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.
