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The Colorado State Rams (25-10) take on the Texas Longhorns (20-12) in the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday. Tip-off from Spectrum Center in Charlotte is set for 6:50 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Colorado State vs. Texas odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
Colorado State earned the 10 seed in the Midwest Region by crushing Virginia 67-42 in First Four action Tuesday, easily cashing as a 3-point favorite. Both F Joel Scott (23 points, 11 rebounds) and G Nique Clifford (17, 10) recorded double doubles, and the Rams held the Cavaliers to a paltry 14 of 56 from the field (25 FG%).
No. 7 seed Texas last played March 13, losing 78-74 to Kansas State in the 2nd round of the Big 12 Tournament. G Max Abmas, who leads Texas in scoring (17.1 points per game) and is 2nd in the Big 12 in FT% (91.6), led the Longhorns in defeat with 26 points.
These schools last met back on Dec. 15, 1952, and it was Texas who prevailed 63-46 in Austin. The Longhorns are going for their 3rd straight NCAA Tournament first-round win, while the Rams are back in the Big Dance after missing out last year.
– Rankings courtesy of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
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Colorado State vs. Texas odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:05 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Colorado State +114 (bet $100 to win $114) | Texas -137 (bet $137 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Colorado State +2.5 (-118) | Texas -2.5 (-104)
- Over/Under (O/U): 143.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Colorado State vs. Texas picks and predictions
Prediction
Colorado State 75, Texas 74
Moneyline
PASS.
Given the aforementioned recent success in the 1st round for this Longhorns team, I would rather take the few points.
Against the spread
BET COLORADO STATE +2.5 (-118).
The Rams led the Mountain West in FT% as a team (75.3), and no one committed more personal fouls per game (3.4) in the Big 12 than Texas F Dylan Disu. CSU also led the MWC in assists per game (17.7), good for 8th-best nationally as well.
Expect the Rams to be able to facilitate the basketball and get it down low, putting themselves in position to potentially get fouled. The Longhorns should play aggressively, since they feature players like G Tyrese Hunter, who Disu has credited with bringing defensive energy and intensity.
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Over/Under
BET OVER 143.5 (-112).
Hunter was a miserable 0 for 7 from the floor in the Big 12 Tournament loss to Kansas State, but in the regular season finale vs. Oklahoma, he finished with a career-high 30 points. Expect a stat line closer to the latter from the junior guard, and this Texas team is definitely a tougher test from an offensive standpoint for the Rams than UVA was.
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