Colorado vs. Boise State Odds, Picks, and Predictions

• Colorado has won eight of its last nine games heading into the NCAA Tournament.

• Boise State is 6-2 in its last eight games, including wins over New Mexico and San Diego State.

• Boise State is in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year but has an all-time record of 0-9.

After both barely snuck into the field of 68, the Colorado Buffaloes and Boise State Broncos have to play in Wednesday’s First Four matchup. The winner will advance to the First Round to face the Florida Gators. The Buffaloes are hoping that their late-season hot streak can extend to the NCAA Tournament, while the Broncos hope that playing in a deep Mountain West Conference that sent six teams to the Big Dance will have them prepared for Wednesday’s game.

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Colorado vs. Boise State Predictions and Odds

Colorado

A month ago, it would have been laughable to think the Buffaloes would be in the NCAA Tournament. But after two wins in the Pac-12 Tournament, Colorado raddled off eight straight wins before losing to Oregon in the Pac-12 title game. That winning streak included road wins over USC and Oregon, helping the Buffs build a resume good enough to get them into the Big Dance.

In the NCAA Tournament, Colorado will keep leaning on KJ Simpson, who led the team with 19.6 points and 4.9 assists per game. He’s also one of the team’s best rebounders and even had a double-double during the Pac-12 Tournament. Simpson is joined in the Colorado backcourt by J’Vonne Hadley, another hard-nosed guard who is strong on the boards and is good at betting on the basket.

Outside of Simpson, the strength of Colorado is inside. Senior forward Tristan Da Silva averages 15.8 points per game and is a stat stuffer across the board. Meanwhile, TCU transfer Eddie Lampkin is as tough and physical as they get in the paint. He’s put together two double-doubles in his last four games and is always a threat to grab double-digit rebounds. Finally, freshman Cody Willams is Colorado's biggest x-factor. His scoring has been inconsistent down the stretch, but he averages 12.6 points per game and can be a difference-maker.

Boise State

The Broncos used a surprisingly strong Mountain West to build a tournament-worthy resume. During the season, they had two wins over San Diego State and two wins over New Mexico, which was enough for the Selection Committee. However, Boise’s non-conference schedule lacked quality wins, as the Broncos lost to teams like Clemson, Virginia Tech, and Butler. That creates some questions about their preparedness for the NCAA Tournament.

Nevertheless, Boise State looks like a tournament team with four players who average at least 12 points per game. Tyson Degenhart, a forward, leads that quartet with an average of 17 points per game. He and O’Mar Stanley form a solid tandem in the frontcourt, with Stanely averaging 13 points and a team-high 6.4 rebounds per game.

In the backcourt, the Broncos feature two talented guards, Chibuzo Agbo and Max Rice. Both are excellent perimeter shooters and can score points in a hurry if they get hot. However, there is a clear drop-off in Boise State’s scoring beyond those four players. Nobody else on the roster averages more than six points per game, so Boise State can’t afford any of its top four scorers to have a bad game.

Colorado vs. Boise State Pick

• PICK: Colorado -2.5 at DraftKings

Colorado is 2.5 points favored over Boise State, according to DraftKings. That’s a reasonable spread for a First Four game, but it’s clear the Buffaloes have more momentum, more talent, and a little more depth. As mentioned, the Broncos need all four of their double-digit scorers to perform well because they don’t have much of a Plan B. Even if the Broncos get strong performances from their core players, Simpson and Colorado’s size figure to be too much, helping to give the Buffs a comfortable win.

Colorado vs. Boise State How to Watch

• When: 9:10 PM EST on Wednesday, March 20

• Where: UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio

• TV: truTV

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