Colorado vs Marquette Prediction & Best Bets: Take the Over in the Opener

In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 14 teams scored 85 or more points on the way to winning their matchups. Two of those teams, Colorado and Marquette, will kick off Sunday’s second-round slate with a South Region showdown in Indianapolis (12:10 pm ET, CBS).

Second-seeded Marquette (26-9) trailed by seven at halftime against #15 Western Kentucky. But the Golden Eagles stepped it up in the second half, outscoring the Hilltoppers 51-26 in an 87-69 victory.

But will the Golden Eagles fall in the second round for the second straight season, or will they advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2013?

The drought is an even bigger one for the tenth-seeded Buffaloes (26-10), who haven’t been to the Sweet Sixteen since 1969, when the NCAA Tournament was a 25-team event.

In the first round, Colorado outlasted seventh-seeded Florida 102-100, with the winning points provided by KJ Simpson on a baseline jumper with 1.7 seconds remaining.

Will we see points, points, and more points in today’s matchup in Indianapolis? Read on for a Colorado vs Marquette prediction, as well as best bets for the game.

Colorado vs Marquette Odds

Odds are via BetOnline, a longtime fixture in the sports betting industry. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then grab yourself a nice sign-up bonus to bet on today’s NCAA Tournament, NIT, and CBI action.

Spread

• Colorado +4.5 (-110)
• Marquette -4.5 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 149 (-119)
• Under 149 (-101)

Moneyline

• Colorado +172
• Marquette -197

Looking for more picks for today’s games? Our NCAA basketball picks page features moneyline, spread, and total (over/under) picks for today’s NCAA Tournament, NIT, and CBI games.

Colorado vs Marquette Betting Analysis and Prediction

Colorado’s first-round win was a much different game than their First Four matchup with Boise State, a 60-53 win over the Broncos on Wednesday. In the second half alone, the Buffaloes scored 57 points against the Gators.

Colorado shot a blistering 63% against Florida, which they almost certainly won’t do against Marquette, who is 18^th in Division I in adjusted defensive efficiency.

But with what both teams bring to the table offensively, I expect to see points in this one, even with the early start in mind.

Entering today, the two teams rank 20^th (Marquette) and 21^st (Colorado), respectively, in adjusted offensive efficiency, and they both shoot the ball well. Colorado is sixth in Division I in shooting percentage (49.5%), while Marquette ranks 27^th (47.8%). In the win over Western Kentucky, the Golden Eagles hit that right on the dot, making 33 of 69 shots.

If the expected scoring does occur, both teams have some strong numbers for the season. Marquette is 16-0 SU and 13-3 ATS when scoring 80+ points, while Colorado is 15-1 SU and 11-5 ATS when scoring 80+ points. The lone loss was an 88-83 loss at Colorado State on November 29.

That loss, however, is part of an unpleasant record for the Buffaloes, who are a 2-4 SU and ATS as an underdog this season and 3-4 SU and ATS when giving up 80+ points.

Colorado vs Marquette Best Bets

Marquette -4.5 & Colorado/Marquette Over 149

If you are looking for something to really tip the scales one way or the other, look no further than Marquette’s record as a favorite.

For the season, the Golden Eagles are 22-4 SU and 18-8 ATS as a favorite, and they have won and covered in their last 11 games as a favorite since failing to cover in a win at DePaul on January 24.

Bonus Pick: Kam Jones (Marquette) Over 2.5 Made Threes (-115 at Bovada)

Against Western Kentucky, Jones led the way with 28 points. He was 10 of 16 from the field, including 5 of 10 from three.

Jones may not match that performance today but look for him to nail at least three triples. He has yet to make three or more threes in three straight games this season, but Colorado gave up 11 threes against Florida, with Walter Clayton Jr. (4 of 10) and Will Richard (3 of 6) both being productive from the perimeter.

More March Madness Betting Information

Where Can You Bet on March Madness This Year?

Each year, millions upon of millions of March Madness bets are placed at the top online sports betting sites.

Most March Madness betting takes place around and at tournament time, which is from mid-March to early April. But throughout the year, you can bet on who you think will win the college basketball national championship.

Along with men’s college basketball odds, most good sportsbooks now carry women’s college basketball national championship odds, which are drawing a lot of attention this season with the likes of South Carolina, Iowa, and LSU vying to cut down the nets in Cleveland, Ohio on April 7.

Numerous sportsbooks are good for March Madness betting, but in addition to BetOnline, here are some of the books that we have reviewed and highly recommend:

• BetDSI (Review)
• BetUS (Review)
• Bovada (Review)
• MyBookie (Review)

If you are unfamiliar with any of the above sites, check out our sportsbook reviews to learn more about them. Speaking of offers, keep an eye on the latest sportsbook offers from these books and others as the countdown to the opening tip of March Madness continues. That way, you will not miss out on any special sports betting promos and bonuses to pad your bankroll for March Madness betting.

Other March Madness Content at Betting News

If you’d like to check out our other March Madness content, our March Madness guide is where you can find it all in one tidy place. But here’s a rundown of some of what we have put together to help you with your NCAA Tournament betting this year.

We’re also covering the 2024 NIT, so check out that content as well.

• Men’s March Madness Futures Odds
• Women’s March Madness Futures Odds
• 2024 Men’s Final Four Odds
• Six Men’s March Madness Sleepers for 2024
• Best March Madness Betting Tips & Strategies
• Where to Find the Best March Madness Betting Picks
• Best March Madness Betting Sites for This Year
• This Year’s Best March Madness Bracket Challenges
• Betting News Bracket Mania (Our FREE March Madness Bracket Challenge!)

Interested in Learning More About Betting on March Madness & NCAA Basketball?

If you are interested in learning more about betting on men’s or women’s NCAA basketball, check out our college basketball betting guide. It covers the basics of wagering on March Madness, the Mountain West, the MAAC, McNeese State, and beyond.

• College Basketball Betting Guide: How to Bet on NCAA Basketball in 2024

Also, follow Betting News on X/Twitter, Twitch, and TikTok to get more March Madness and NCAA basketball insight from myself and the rest of our team. We’re cooking up a lot of great NCAA Tournament content for both the men’s and women’s tournaments, so hit those links so you don’t miss out on any of it.

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