The No. 1 seed Colorado State Rams (20-7) take on the No. 4 seed Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (23-8) Sunday in the NIT Consolation Game at Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on ESPN. Below, we analyze the Colorado State-Louisiana Tech odds and lines, with March Madness NCAA Tournament picks and predictions.
The Rams were no match for Memphis in the NIT semifinals and were blasted 90-67. Colorado State’s defense had been in lockdown mode in the first four postseason games while allowing an average of 64.5 points per game and the Under hit in each outing.
Memphis then blew the doors off, and that game easily cashed the Over. The Under is still 8-3 across Colorado State’s last 11 games.
The Bulldogs also didn’t put up much resistance in their NIT semifinal, falling 84-62 to Mississippi State. After allowing just 62.3 PPG in the first four postseason games, the defense struggled mightily in the loss. The Under is 13-7-2 across the past 22 games for the Bulldogs.
Colorado State vs. Louisiana Tech: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:30 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Colorado State -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Louisiana Tech +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Colorado State -1 (-110) | Louisiana Tech +1 (-110)
- Over/Under: 142.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Colorado State vs. Louisiana Tech: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Colorado State 69, Louisiana Tech 66
Money line (ML)
COLORADO STATE (-120) is worth playing on the money line, as opposed to the spread. The Rams closed the regular season on a roll, and their only losses are to Utah State, an NCAA Tournament team, and to Memphis.
The Rams have a decent offense with 75.9 PPG, they’re a good free-throw shooting team and they play a strong brand of defense, too.
While Louisiana Tech made a nice run in the postseason, losing to eventual tournament team North Texas in the Conference USA tournament, it’s not as battle-tested as the Rams. Look for CSU to get onto NIT podium for a third-place finish.
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Against the spread (ATS)
There is no real good reason to play Colorado State -1 (-110) rather than just play the money line. Essentially it’s the same bet, unless you truly have some sort of a model which suggests to you that this will be a one-point game. Even then, you would simply push. AVOID, just play the ML.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 142.5 (-110) is my favorite play on the board in this consolation game, as I really like what I have seen from Colorado State’s defense.
Add in the fact Louisiana Tech hit the Over last time out, and it hasn’t hit consecutive Overs since Dec. 15-19, and the Under looks really good.
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