The 12-seed Georgetown Hoyas (13-12) meet the 5-seed Colorado Buffaloes (22-8) Saturday in the first round of the East Regional at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The tip-off is set for 12:45 p.m. ET and will broadcast on CBS. Below, we analyze the Colorado-Georgetown odds and lines, with March Madness NCAA Tournament picks and predictions.
No. 22 Colorado had its 6-game win streak snapped in the Pac-12 Tournament title game last week by losing as an 8.5-point favorite to the Oregon State Beavers.
The Buffaloes have made it past the first round of the NCAA Tournament once in their four appearances since head coach Tad Boyle took over the program in 2010.
Towards the middle of Georgetown’s season, it appeared head coach Patrick Ewing was on the hot seat as the Hoyas lost five straight Big East games and fell to 3-8.
Georgetown rallied and played its way into the Big Dance by winning the Big East Tournament, which included wins over then-No. 11 Villanova and then-No. 17 Creighton by 25 points in the conference title game.
Colorado vs. Georgetown: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 6:37 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Georgetown +200 (bet $100 to win $200) | Colorado -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Georgetown +6 (-110) | Colorado -6 (-110)
- Over/Under: 138.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Colorado vs. Georgetown: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Georgetown 66, Colorado 62
Money line (ML)
PASS with a slight lean on Georgetown (+200) since I’m on the Hoyas to cover the spread and often will sprinkle on an underdog’s money line.
It’s awfully cliché, but I’d also consider making this your annual 12-seed over 5-seed upset because Georgetown gets to play the “no one believes in us” card.
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Against the spread (ATS)
There’s inherent value on GEORGETOWN +6 (-110) because the public will be fading the Hoyas since it’s known they wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for an improbable run to the Big East crown.
Plus, Georgetown has played well against tough competition and is 5-2 ATS with a plus-8.4-point spread differential vs. ranked opponents.
Furthermore, Colorado has been a little shaky when playing away from Boulder, which has a significant homecourt advantage because visiting teams aren’t used to playing at altitude.
According to Ken Pom, Colorado has the biggest homecourt advantage in Division 1 basketball and the Buffaloes are 5-7 ATS in road games and 3-3 ATS in neutral site games.
GIMME GEORGETOWN +6 (-110) for 1.25 units.
Over/Under (O/U)
PASS because something tells me Georgetown-Colorado will be a rock fight and these teams have a combined 22-32-1 O/U record, but it’s more of a hunch than something I’m willing to gamble on.
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