College Basketball

San Diego State vs. Arizona State line, prediction: Aztecs slow it down

Ranked teams San Diego State and Arizona State will duel in the desert on Thursday for West Coast superiority, with both looking to impose their style on the other.

Arizona State ranks in the top 50 of Division I teams in possessions per game and San Diego State is in the bottom 50, but each has taken care of the ball — with San Diego State tying for fifth in opponents steals per game and Arizona State in the top 40 in lowest percentage of possessions that end in a turnover.

Arizona State will have guard Alonzo Verge, after he missed the team’s most recent two game per COVID tracing protocol. He averaged 15 points per game in the team’s first two games. Though Verge is a scorer, he is a lifetime 29.3 percent 3-point shooter facing a top-40 defense in fewest points allowed on a per-possession basis.

San Diego State has used a balanced attack on offense to get off to 4-0 start — nobody is averaging more than 12.8 points per game, but the Aztecs have nine different players averaging at least six points per game.

With Arizona State rating in the bottom 80 in 3-point shooting percentage defense and rebound rate, the more well-rounded Aztecs should slow down Arizona State in the Sun Devils’ own home arena.

The Play: San Diego State +4.5.