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#837 San Diego +4.5 over Portland 9:30 PM CT

Portland last won a top 250 game on December 1 and while the Pilots are 1-2 in WCC play, the only win came against Pacific at the bottom of the league. Losing to Saint Mary’s and San Francisco on the road is understandable but the Pilots lost those two games by a combined 70 points. Portland has two home losses outside the nation’s top 200 and grades as one of the worst defensive teams not only in the WCC but in the entire nation, allowing an effective field goal rate of nearly 54 percent while rarely creating turnovers. The only strength on the defensive profile for the Pilots is that their opponents have shot poorly from the free throw line, something that they won’t be able to bank on moving forward. San Diego is 0-4 in WCC play but they have faced three of the top contenders in the conference so far. Steve Lavin’s team already has 10 wins in his second season after only 11 wins all season last year. San Diego upset Arizona State in December has played close with several quality teams including Saint Mary’s and Big West contenders Hawaii and UC San Diego. The up-tempo pace and depth in the lineup should play to an advantage against the struggling Portland defense, even if Deuce Turner is out again after he missed the team’s last game without explanation. Portland lost one of their best players to suspension a few weeks ago and while the Pilots have won five straight in this series, the current season numbers suggest that San Diego will pass up Portland in the standings once the schedules balance out.