I’m expecting a shootout in this neutral court game held in Henderson, NV between Santa Clara and New Mexico. The Lobos are deserving of a being a big favorite sitting at 8-1 and 7-2 ATS. Santa Clara has five new starters this season but they’re 7-2 so far with wins against Stanford and Oregon. New Mexico has won seven straight and covered the last six. New Mexico averages 85 ppg, Santa Clara 79. Over is the top play.

Familiar surroundings for the Lobos, who played three games in Henderson during Thanksgiving week. Now New Mexico has welcomed back returning top scorer G Jaelen House in last week’s romp past New Mexico State. Even as key G Jamal Mashburn Jr. missed his fourth straight game at midweek due to ankle and quad injuries, Lobos newcomers, including impressive frosh F JT Toppin and G Tru Washington, plus soph G Donovan Dent, delivered vs. vs. UCSB. Herb Sendek’s SCU Clara wasn’t at full strength, either, last weekend vs. Cal when top scorer G Carlos Marshall, Jr (15.8 ppg) was unavailable, though he’s expected to be a go for Saturday, and note the Stanford and Oregon wins. Play SCU (at Henderson).