I'm backing the Bulldogs on Monday at San Diego State.

The Aztecs couldn't cover against San Diego in their lone true test before this massive challenge against the Zags, which doesn't give me faith in their ability to cover against one of the most experienced and talented teams in the land. SDSU lost 75 percent of its minutes, points, rebounds, and assists from last season's team, including a couple of unexpected transfer portal losses in Lamont Butler (Kentucky) and Micah Parrish (Ohio State). That doesn't bode well against a Bulldogs squad that returns 76 percent of their 2023-24 team and added a couple of top-tier transfers, Khalif Battle (14.8 PPG at Arkansas) and Michael Ajayi (17.2 PPG and 9.9 RPG at Pepperdine).

Lay the points with the veteran Zags (1st in offensive efficiency and 33rd in defensive efficiency) on Monday against an Aztecs team that will struggle to keep pace on the scoreboard (112th in offensive efficiency).