Predicting the Best Games Of The Week

It will be a bit of a quiet week in the Big Sky, with Christmas almost upon us, but there will still be a few games worth watching this week. Here are some thoughts on some of the intriguing matchups.

@ St. Mary's 74, Eastern Washington 64 (12/19)
This will depend on which Eagles team shows up. If it is the team that was solid this year at forcing turnovers and hitting outside shots, this is a game they can win. But they have been a little too inconsistent of late, last week putting up an anemic offensive performance against UCLA before sneaking by Pacific Lutheran. St. Mary's is simply the better team at this point in the year.

@ New Mexico 77, Montana State 63 (12/20)
It is a very difficult team to go into New Mexico and win in The Pit, and the Bobcats don't quite have that talent level. It will be a nice test for them heading into the Big Sky season, to go into a hostile environment and play. Xavier Blount is emerging as a great weapon for them, and they will need him to be a star to stay in this game.

@ Weber State 74, Utah 54 (12/22)
Weber State is banged up and coming off of a tough game against California, but they should win this game big. They are the better, more talented team, and playing in Ogden. Damian Lillard will look to get back on track after a surprisingly poor performance against Cal. Hopefully this is a game for the Wildcats to get back in sync.

Wyoming 75, @ Idaho State 61 (12/22)
Wyoming is a solid club this year, as they sit at 11-1 and have the look of being in the upper half of the Moutain West. They have been efficient offensively and one of the best defensive teams in the country. That is bad news for Idaho State, who looks like they might be one of the worst Division I teams out there after their 12 point loss to Utah. Chase Grabau is a real nice player, but there are not a lot of other positive for Jim O'Brien.

Colorado State 69, @ Northern Colorado 65 (12/22)
This should be a pretty competitive game. The Rams are solid, but they are not as talented as they were last season. UNC can definitely win this game, but I think they will come up a little short. They are a young team that is still learning how to win games. It will be a battle of the guards, and the Bears need Paul Garnica and Tate Unruh to hit some outside shots.

Portland State 87, @ Cal State Fullerton 84 (12/22)
The Vikings are doing some good things offensively, but they have been bad defensively, there is no other way to say it. Cal State Fullerton is similar in that they are good offensively but have had their struggles on defense. Expect a high-scoring, entertaining game, with the Vikings having a little bit more in them.

Last Week: 6-2
Season Record: 20-10

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