Colorado vs Boise State First Four Prediction & Best Bets: Will the Buffaloes Overrun the Broncos?
Written by: Eddie Griffin
Last Update: Wed Mar 20, 2024, 11:38 am ET
Read Time: 6 minutes
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Who will have a #10 versus #7 date with the Florida Gators in a South Region showdown in Indianapolis on Friday? We will find out tonight in Dayton as Boise State and Colorado meet in the final First Four matchup (9:10 pm ET, truTV).
The Buffaloes (24-10, 13-7 Pac-12) moved themselves into a favorable position on the March Madness bubble by winning six straight games to end the regular season then reaching the championship game of the Pac-12 Tournament, where they fell to Oregon.
It wasn't quite enough to avoid the First Four, but the Buffaloes are dancing for the first time since 2021 and for the sixth time in coach Tad Boyle's 14 seasons in Boulder.
The reward is a matchup with the Broncos (22-10, 13-5 Mountain West), who might have been surprised to find themselves facing a trip to Dayton instead of a ticket to the first round. Boise State had several good wins, finished third in the Mountain West, and played a challenging non-conference schedule, but a quarterfinal loss to New Mexico in the conference tournament—as well as the NCAA Tournament selection committee's apparently less than stellar opinion of the Mountain West—consigned them to the First Four.
Still, it is a third straight March Madness appearance for the Broncos, which is a program first.
Who will move on to meet the Gators? The Buffaloes are favored by a small margin, but read on to find out if they are my pick to move on.
Colorado vs Boise State Odds
Odds are via BetOnline, a longtime fixture in the sports betting industry. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then grab yourself a nice sign-up bonus to bet on today's NCAA basketball action.
Spread
- Colorado -2.5 (-115)
- Boise State +2.5 (-105)
Over/Under
- Over 141.5 (-105)
- Under 141.5 (-115)
Moneyline
- Colorado -145
- Boise State +125
Looking for more men's college hoops picks? Our NCAA basketball picks page features moneyline, spread, and total (over/under) picks for all of the top games each day.
Colorado vs Boise State Betting Analysis and Prediction
Whereas the other First Four matchup featuring a power conference school and a Mountain West member was thoroughly uncompetitive, that will likely not be the case here.
The Buffaloes have five players averaging 10+ points per game, led by KJ Simpson (19.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.9 APG) and Tristan da Silva (15.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.4 APG).
If freshman Cody Williams can make the most of his minutes, the Buffaloes will be all the more dangerous. Williams, a projected NBA Draft lottery pick, has missed 13 games and didn't play heavy minutes in the Pac-12 Tournament. But the Big Dance offers the opportunity to boost his draft stock, as well as help his team thrive.
The Broncos have four 10+ PPG scorers, led by junior forward Tyson Degenhart (17.0 PPG, 6.2 RPG). Degenhart enters the tournament with three consecutive double-doubles, two more than in his first 28 games this season.
Boise State defeated Saint Mary's, swept San Diego State and New Mexico in the regular season, and won at Nevada, so they will be prepared for the challenge they will face tonight.
But I really like the talent on this Colorado team, and I like their potential to beat Florida and test #2 seed Marquette in the second round. Look for Simpson to lead the Buffaloes to a spot in Indianapolis in what should be a really good game.
Colorado vs Boise State Best Bets
Colorado -2.5 & Colorado/Boise State first half over 65
On the defensive end, both teams rank in the top 40 at KenPom. Colorado ranks 39th in adjusted defensive efficiency, while Boise State ranks 28th.
But they are also solid on the offensive end, with the Buffaloes 25th and the Broncos 50th in adjusted offensive efficiency. I think we will see a bit of scoring in the first half.
More March Madness Betting Information
Where Can You Bet on March Madness This Year?
Each year, millions upon of millions of March Madness bets are placed at the top online sports betting sites.
Most March Madness betting takes place around and at tournament time, which is from mid-March to early April. But throughout the year, you can bet on who you think will win the college basketball national championship.
Along with men's college basketball odds, most good sportsbooks now carry women's college basketball national championship odds, which are drawing a lot of attention this season with the likes of South Carolina, Iowa, and LSU vying to cut down the nets in Cleveland, Ohio on April 7.
Numerous sportsbooks are good for March Madness betting, but in addition to BetOnline, here are some of the books that we have reviewed and highly recommend:
If you are unfamiliar with any of the above sites, check out our sportsbook reviews to learn more about them. Speaking of offers, keep an eye on the latest sportsbook offers from these books and others as the countdown to the opening tip of March Madness continues. That way, you will not miss out on any special sports betting promos and bonuses to pad your bankroll for March Madness betting.
Other March Madness Content at Betting News
If you'd like to check out our other March Madness content, our March Madness guide is where you can find it all in one tidy place. But here's a rundown of some of what we have put together to help you with your NCAA Tournament betting this year.
We're also covering the 2024 NIT, so check out that content as well.
- Men's March Madness Futures Odds
- Women's March Madness Futures Odds
- 2024 Men's Final Four Odds
- Six Men's March Madness Sleepers for 2024
- Best March Madness Betting Tips & Strategies
- March Madness Betting Trends & Stats to Know for 2024
- Where to Find the Best March Madness Betting Picks
- Best March Madness Betting Sites for This Year
- This Year's Best March Madness Bracket Challenges
- Betting News Bracket Mania (Our FREE March Madness Bracket Challenge!)
Interested in Learning More About Betting on March Madness & NCAA Basketball?
If you are interested in learning more about betting on men's or women's NCAA basketball, check out our college basketball betting guide. It covers the basics of wagering on March Madness, the Mountain West, the MAAC, McNeese State, and beyond.
Also, follow Betting News on X/Twitter, Twitch, and TikTok to get more March Madness and NCAA basketball insight from myself and the rest of our team. We're cooking up a lot of great NCAA Tournament content for both the men's and women's tournaments, so hit those links so you don't miss out on any of it.
Do you think the Buffaloes or Broncos will do some damage in the NCAA Tournament? Get your free March Madness bracket picks in for our Betting News Bracket Mania contest and win some goodies from the Betting News store if you finish first, second, or third.
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