Colorado vs Utah Valley Prediction March Madness

Photo Credit: © Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Preview

The NIT second round is upon us, and we have an intriguing matchup between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Utah Valley Wolverines. Both teams are coming off close wins in the first round and will be looking to continue their run in the tournament. Our expert analysis predicts that Utah Valley will keep the game close and cover the +4.5 points spread. Let's take a closer look at each team and their chances in this matchup.

Colorado Buffaloes:

The Buffaloes have had an up-and-down season this year, finishing with a mediocre 18-16 record. They were able to secure a spot in the NIT tournament after failing to make it to the NCAA March Madness bracket. Colorado's top performer this season has been senior forward Tristan da Silva, who has been a dominant force on both ends of the court, averaging 16 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

The Buffaloes' offense has been decent this season, averaging 69.9 points per game while shooting 43.3% from the field and 35.8% from beyond the arc. They have had a few standout games where they have put up big numbers, but consistency has been an issue for them. On the defensive end, Colorado has struggled to contain their opponents, allowing an average of 64.0 points per game. They have shown flashes of defensive brilliance, but their inconsistency has been a hindrance throughout the season.

Colorado's rebounding game has been a bright spot for the team this season. They have pulled down an average of 37.4 rebounds per game, which is higher than their opponents' average of 35.6. If they can continue to dominate the boards, they could give themselves a chance to win against Utah Valley.

Utah Valley Wolverines:

The Wolverines had an outstanding season, finishing with a 26-8 record and going 15-3 in WAC play. They secured a spot in the NIT after narrowly missing out on the NCAA tournament. Utah Valley has been led by guard Lance Darthard, who has been their top scorer this season, averaging 14 points per game. He has been an efficient scorer, shooting 49.7% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc.

The Wolverines' offense has been one of the most efficient in the country this season, averaging 77.1 points per game on 46.4% shooting from the field and 38.7% shooting from beyond the arc. They have a deep and talented roster that can score from all over the court. They also excel on the boards, averaging 40.1 rebounds per game, which is higher than their opponents' average of 36.8.

Defensively, Utah Valley has been solid, allowing an average of 69.0 points per game. They have shown the ability to shut down their opponents in some games and have also shown the resilience to come back from large deficits. Their depth has allowed them to play an aggressive and high-intensity defense throughout the season.

Overall, Utah Valley has had a better season than Colorado, and they are the favorites to win this game. However, Colorado has shown the ability to pull off upsets, and they will not go down without a fight. The Wolverines' efficient offense and solid defense will be too much for the Buffaloes to handle, but the game should be close, and Utah Valley will likely cover the +4.5 points spread.

Betting Trends

Utah Valley are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games.

The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Utah Valley's last 8 games.

Utah Valley are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games.

The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Utah Valley's last 6 games on the road.

Utah Valley are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games against an opponent in the Pac-12 conference.

The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Colorado's last 19 games.

Colorado are 11-3 SU in their last 14 games at home.

Colorado are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games against an opponent in the Western Athletic conference.

The total has gone OVER in 6 of Colorado's last 8 games played in March.

Prediction

Both teams have had their fair share of success this season, and this should be a close game. However, we predict that Utah Valley will keep the game close and cover the +4.5 points spread. The Wolverines have a more efficient offense and excel at rebounding the ball, which should give them an edge over Colorado. It won't be an easy win for Utah Valley, but they have what it takes to cover the spread and potentially pull off an upset.

PICK: Marquette ML (-125)

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