Colorado vs. Arizona NCAAB Preview
Where: T-Mobile Arena – Las Vegas, NV
When: Thursday, March 9, 2017, 9:00 PM ET
Line: Colorado Buffaloes (+8) at Arizona Wildcats (-8); total: 138.5 – view all NCAA basketball lines
TV Broadcast: Pac-12 Network
Writer’s Pick: Arizona Wildcats (-8)
College Basketball News and Previews
Betting on the Colorado Buffaloes (19-13, 8-10 Pac-12)
The Colorado Buffaloes are on a nice little roll at the moment. After winning their last two regular season games against Stanford (91-72) and Cal (54-46), the Buffs took care of their Pac-12 tournament first round matchup against Washington State, 73-63.
As usual, seniors Derrick White and Xavier Johnson carried the team to victory. White had a team-high 26 points, while Johnson added 19 points. The two averaged a combined 31.5 points during the regular season, and they will have to be at the top of their game to pull off an upset of Arizona.
Johnson did his part during the Buffs’ first meeting with the Wildcats as he went off for 26 points. However, White was limited to just 7 points, one of just three conference games where he was limited to just single-digit scoring. The Buffs lost that game, 82-73, in Tuscon.
Colorado could really use more production from players other than White and Johnson this time around. Fellow senior Wesley Gordon had 16 points and 9 boards against Arizona, but has averaged just 6.5 points in the 13 games since.
Betting on the Arizona Wildcats (27-4, 16-2 Pac-12)
The Arizona Wildcats will be massive favorites in this matchup with Colorado, and with good reason. The top-seeded Wildcats were very consistent during conference play as they went an impressive 16-2. Their only two losses came against the conference’s two next-strongest teams – Oregon and UCLA. That meant they beat everyone they were meant to beat – like Colorado.
However, the Wildcats weren’t the greatest in terms of covering the spread. They were just 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games. They also came up just short of covering the 11-point spread in their first game against Colorado.
Lauri Markkanen dominated the Buffs for 22 points and 6 rebounds in just 22 minutes, while Kadeem Allen and Dusan Ristic had 18 and 17 points, respectively.
Arizona was without Allonzo Trier in that first game as he was still serving a suspension for PEDs. They’ll have him this time around, though, and just when he’s playing his best basketball of the season. Trier is putting up 23 points on a sizzling 59 percent shooting from the field over his last four games.
Arizona has an outstanding record against Colorado over the years. They’re 8-1 in their last 9 meetings. However, they’re only 4-5 against the spread.
Writer’s Prediction
Arizona (-8) is once again too much for Colorado as the Wildcats win, 79-64.
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