USC vs Colorado Prediction, Game Preview: Pac-12 Tournament

Pac-12 Tournament: USC Trojans vs Colorado Buffaloes prediction and college basketball game preview.

Pac-12 Tournament: USC Trojans vs Colorado Buffaloes prediction and college basketball game preview.


USC vs Colorado Broadcast

Date: Friday, March 13
Game Time: 11:30 pm ET
Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Network: ESPN

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All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

USC (22-6) vs Colorado (21-7) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college basketball, go to BetMGM


Why Colorado Will Win

Does USC have any legs left?

It had to fight through a double-overtime thrilling over Utah, winning 91-85 with plenty of big runs and a whole lot of emotion and energy on both ends to get by.

Enter Colorado, who’s able to play a fast style when it needs to, but its better at clamping down defensively and getting nasty and tough on the boards at both ends. That came through in the 80-62 win over the Trojans a few weeks ago, and also in a ten-point win in late December.

The Buffs got pushed way too hard by a bad Cal team in a 61-58 win in the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals, but when the defense had to come through, it did.

However …

Why USC Will Win

Colorado couldn’t make a thing from three against the Bears and it struggled from the field.

The Buffs didn’t have to expend the same sort of energy or fight, but it wasn’t able to rest for a moment in a game that should’ve been far more relaxing and fun.

Yes, Colorado was able to win in the first two meetings with its offense, and it’s not like the Utah win was a defensive slugfest, but the Trojans have the D, they have the ability make big things happen on the board, and they generally do both things better than Colorado. But …

What’s Going To Happen

Something is missing.

USC should be a whole lot stronger considering its defensive chops and its ability to lock down and force teams to go dead cold for long stretches. However, the scoring punch isn’t there on a regular basis, and teams are doing too well from three lately to shoot over this D.

Colorado might not have been great against Cal, but it’s got the ability to play the type of defensive low-scoring games that USC thrives in.

Be shocked if this isn’t close and stunned if it doesn’t come down to the final 90 seconds. Colorado leads the nation in free throw percentage, and USC is one of the worst teams in the country at the line.

USC vs Colorado Prediction, Line

Colorado 67, USC 64
Bet on college basketball with BetMGM
Line: COMING, o/u: COMING
ATS Confidence out of 5: COMING

Must See Rating: 3.5

5: The other 17 holes at the TPC
1: The focus on the TPC 17th

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USC at Colorado college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Thursday’s USC Trojans at Colorado Buffaloes betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks.

The USC Trojans (19-7, 8-5 Pac-12) head to Boulder, Colo., for a 9 p.m. ET tip-off against the Colorado Buffaloes (20-6, 9-4) at the CU Events Center. We analyze the USC-Colorado odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

USC at Colorado: Three things you need to know

1. Colorado steamrolled USC 78-57 in Los Angeles in the first head-to-head meeting this season. In fact, the Buffaloes have won and covered three straight against the Trojans.

2. USC enters on a two-game win streak, taking home games vs. the Washington State Cougars 70-51 Saturday, and vs the Washington Huskies 62-56 Feb. 13.

3. The Buffaloes are ranked No. 17 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll  and are on track for their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2016.


Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM! 


USC at Colorado: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:10 p.m. ET.

Prediction

USC 68, Colorado 64

Moneyline (ML)

USC (+350) has six top-100 RSCI recruits on its roster compared to just one for Colorado (-455). It’s not like the Buffaloes are a more experienced squad than the Trojans: Colorado had four upperclassmen in its starting lineup last game, while USC had three upperclassmen, and they both have 1.7 years of average experience on their rosters. Place a small wager on USC (+350).

New to sports betting? Bet $50 on USC to profit $175 if the Trojans win outright.

Against the Spread (ATS)

This number is kind of confusing to me. Sure, Colorado -9.5 (-106) blew out USC +9.5 (-115) in their first meeting of the season, but USC has the best ATS winning percentage of any Pac-12 team. The Trojans have covered four straight games since their Feb. 4 outright and ATS loss to the Buffaloes. USC is 5-0 ATS in its last five games as an underdog and 4-0 ATS in its last four games overall. Plus, the road team is 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings in this series. Bet USC +9.5 (-115).

New to sports betting? Bet $115 on USC +9.5 to earn a $100 profit if the Trojans lose by 9 or fewer points or win outright.

Over/Under (O/U)

The Under has cashed in back-to-back Colorado games, and six out of seven USC games, including three straight. More importantly, the O/U record is 0-7 for the last seven USC-Colorado meetings. The Trojans have the most Unders in the Pac-12 this season, so back the UNDER 137.5 (-115) since it correlates with our USC ATS/moneyline handicaps. 

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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