Chris Beard is 9-3 in the NCAA Tournament and has never lost in the first round. His Red Raiders played a much tougher schedule than Utah State, beating LSU and Texas twice. The Aggies are dominant at home, but they got blown out in neutral-site games versus VCU and San Diego State. Lay the points.

Utah State won six straight games before losing to San Diego State in the Mountain West Conference championship game. An upgrade in defensive play has been the key, and the Aggies already were solid at that end of the court, allowing opponents to shoot only 39 percent from the field this season. Texas Tech has lost five of its last eight games, including its last two. I took the points with Utah State.