It's always exciting to watch two ranked teams from mid-major conferences play each other in the regular season. (Conversely, it's somewhat unfulfilling in the postseason, like those Boise State-TCU bowl game matchups.) The occurence is like watching two big fish in a small pond tangle, or the moment you move from grammar school to middle school and you first meet/compete against kids from other feeder schools in the area. It might seem a little awkward, but who knows, maybe highly regarded mid-majors hate each other more than they hate bigger time programs. It could be one of those things. It could be... not. We'll get a slightly better picture after tonight's 10:05 pm EST treat between #21 New Mexico (24-5, 15-2) and #10 San Diego State (26-3, 15-2) on CBS.

I haven't seen either team play yet this year, but two programs from San Diego and New Mexico, one with a 20 point-per-game scoring Australian sound like an exotic snack for any east coaster at a bar on Saturday night and looking for something stimulating in the later hours. The aforementioned Australian would be New Mexico 6-foot-9 senior Cameron Bairstow, currently throwing in 20.3 ppg on 56 percent shooting after failing to average more than 10 per game during his first three years. His quickness and aggression to the hoop remind me of a David Lee-Manu Ginobli mix (except Bairstow isn't a lefty, representing the rare right-handed player to be compared to a left handed-one, and vice versa). Perusing through his highlight videos, he seems to also possess that not always American sense of basketball flow. With his high field goal percentage, he clearly knows how to get baskets without dominating possessions. So does his team, evidenced by their above-average 75 ppg (67th in division I). The Lobos are also hot, winning their last six and 12 of their last 13. One of those 12 wins was a 14-point victory at home against... San Diego State.

As of late, the Aztecs have been lukewarm by mid-major powerhouse standards after losing two of their last seven games. They only average three less points than the Lobos, but it's cost them nearly 100 spots in the rankings of team scoring (if that means anything). Last meeting between the two west coast outfits barely combined for 100 points (58-44). If they hope to impress the east coast on national television, they'll have to raise the final score to at least the 60's.

Aztecs are favorites by five. I don't know anyone from San Diego, but I know one person from New Mexico. I'll go with the Lobos.

For live stream, try stream2watch.me

Record: 24-36 (C'mon, 12 in a row, let's do it)

Butler @ Creighton: L (picked Butler, +10.5)

UConn @ Memphis: L (picked Memphis, -7.5)

Depaul @ Villanova: W (picked Villanova, -17.5)

Pittsburg @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -5.5)

Creighton @ Villanova: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)

Baylor @ Kansas: W (picked Baylor, + 10.5)

Indiana @ Michigan State: L (picked Michigan State, -12)

Iowa @ Michigan: L (picked Iowa, + 1.5)

Colorado @ Arizona: W (picked Colorado, + 14.5)

Illinois @ Ohio State: W (picked Illinois, + 11)

Michigan @ Michigan State: W (picked Michigan, + 4.5)

Villanova @ Marquette: W (picked Villanova, -3)

Utah @ Arizona: W (picked Utah, + 15)

Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State: W (picked Oklahoma, + 4.5)

Villanova @ Georgetown: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)

Michigan State @ Iowa: W (picked Michigan State, + 5)

St. John's @ Creighton: W (picked St. John's, + 12)

Iowa State @ Kansas: L (picked Iowa State, + 8.5)

Syracuse @ Wake Forest: L (picked Syracuse, -10)

Purdue @ Michigan: L (picked Michigan, -12)

Florida @ Mississippi State: W (picked Miss. State, + 15)

Duke @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -3)

Xavier @ Villanova: L (picked Xavier, + 10)

Nebraska @ Michigan: L (picked Nebraska, + 13)

Boston College @ Virginia: L (picked Virginia, -13)

Oregon @ Arizona: L (picked Arizona, -11)

Oklahamo State @ Texas Tech: W (picked Texas Tech, + 6.5)

West Virginia @ Kansas: L (picked WVU, + 14)

Maryland @ Virginia: L (picked Virginia, -11)

Iowa State @ West Virginia: L (picked Iowa State, - 1.5)

Michigan @ Ohio State: L (picked Ohio State, -3.5)

Florida @ Tennessee: W (picked Florida, - 1.5)

Syracuse @ Pittsburg: W (picked Syracuse, + 2.5 -- absurd line)

Villanova @ Depaul: W (picked Villanova, -14)

Creighton @ Butler: L (picked Creighton, -8.5)

West Virginia @ Texas: W (picked Texas, -6)

Florida @ Kentucky: L (picked Kentucy, -2)

VCU @ Saint Louis: W (picked VCU, +4.5)

Villanova @ Creighton: L (picked Villanova, -3.5)

Texas @ Iowa State: L (picked Texas, +6)

Villanova @ Providence: L (picked Villanova, -4.5)

Wichita State @ Loyola: L (picked Loyola, + 13.5)

Creighton @ Marquette: W (picked Creighton, -3)

Gonzaga @ BYU: L (picked Gonzaga, +2)

Duke @ North Carolina: L (picked Duke, -2)

St. John's @ Villanova: W (picked St. John's, + 8.5)

Seton Hall @ Creighton: L (picked Creighton, -13.5)

Syracuse @ Maryland: L (picked Syracuse, -4.5

Indiana @ Wisconsin: W (picked Wisconsin, -10.5)

Butler @ Villanova: L (picked Villanova, -14.5)

North Carolina @ North Carolina State: L (picked UNC, -4)

Arkansas @ Kentucky: W (picked Arkansas, + 10.5)

Missouri State @ Wichita State: L (picked Missouri State, + 17.5)

Syracuse @ Virginia: L (picked Syracuse, +3.5)

Marquette @ Villanova: W (picked Villanova, -10.5)

Notre Dame @ North Carolina: L (picked North Carolina, -10.5)

Creighton @ Georgetown: L (picked Creigton, -3.5)

West Virginia @ Oklahoma: W (picked OKlahoma, - 8)

Louisville @ SMU: L (picked SMU, +3.5)

Villanova @ Xavier: W (picked Villanova, -3)