Old friends meet tonight from the long-ago PCAA days, when the Beach was often a force. However that was a long time ago, and I'm not touching the Beach with a 10-foot pole. Besides, San Jose State is bossing this event in Henderson, beating UTEP and UNC-Greensboro the last two nights. The Spartans' perimeter defense has been tough, holding the Miners and Greensboro to a combined 9-of-37 beyond the arc. Meanwhile, UCLA transfer guard Will McClendon has scored double digits in four straight games. The woeful Beach has been non-competitive the past two nights against the same teams. Play San Jose State.

I'm taking San Jose State early because I think the opening number is way too low. I make the Spartans -5 and the ML on the opener is a reasonable -134. San Jose St is playing UNC Greensboro as a write this but win or lose, this is a complete fade of Long Beach State. Both teams are playing their third game in three days but Long Beach lost the first two by 23 and 26 points. This is an atrocious basketball team right now. San Jose State isn't very good either but they should have enough to get the win over one of the country's worst teams on a neutral court. If you do like the ML, lay the 2.5 early.