Colorado (4-1) vs. UCONN (4-1)
November 26, 2024 3:30 pm EDT
The Line: Colorado +15; Over/Under: 144
(Get latest betting odds)
The UConn Huskies and the Colorado Buffaloes meet Tuesday in college basketball action from Lahaina Civic Center. Here’s a Colorado vs UConn prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Colorado vs UConn pick.
UConn Huskies Betting Preview
The Huskies got started with a pretty soft schedule over their first four games. UConn demolished Sacred Heart 92-56, then came victories over New Hampshire 92-53, Le Moyne 90-49, and East Texas A&M 81-46 for an easy 4-0 start.
On Monday versus Memphis in their toughest matchup so far, UConn fell in a shootout. After 40 points in the first half and 42 in the second, the Huskies were outscored 17-15 in OT for a 99-97 shocker loss. Tarris Reed doubled up in the defeat with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Alex Karaban added 19 points.
Colorado Buffaloes Betting Preview
Over on the Colorado side, they got started on a nice run as well. The Buffaloes took wins in their first four games, dispatching Eastern Washington, Northern Colorado, Cal State Fullerton, and Harvard in that quartet.
On Monday versus Michigan State, the Buffaloes were drilled 38-25 in the first half. Colorado couldn’t keep pace from there on a 34-31 deficit and lost big 72-56. Julian Hammond led the way with 15 points, and Elijah Malone added 14 points with five rebounds. Colorado will meet Pacific, Colorado State, South Dakota State, Bellarmine, and Iowa State after this one.
Why the Colorado Buffaloes will win
- Colorado has won 10 of its last 12 games against non-Conference opponents.
- Colorado has won the first half in five of its last six day games against AP-ranked opponents.
Why the Connecticut Huskies will win
- Connecticut has won 23 of its last 24 games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
- Colorado has lost each of its last eight games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.
- Connecticut has won the first half in 18 of its last 19 games played at neutral venues.
Total Points Facts
- Ten of Colorado’s last 11 day games against non-Conference opponents have produced a total of 148+ points.
- Eight of Connecticut’s last 10 day games against non-AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 147+ points.
Matchup/League Facts
- Colorado ranks 33rd among Division 1 teams for opponent three-point percentage this season (26.5%).
- Colorado ranks T48th among Division 1 teams for opponent three-point field goals made per game this season (6.0).
- Connecticut ranks T1st among Division 1 teams for assists per game this season (21.8).
- Connecticut ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for blocks per game this season (9.2).
Colorado vs UConn Prediction
I’m likely going to stay with UConn, but much of the luster has worn off the Huskies following their Monday defeat. In that one UConn gave up a whopping 54.7 percent from the floor and 54.5 percent from 3-point range (12-of-22) to Memphis and simply couldn’t keep up with the blistering pace in the end. Perhaps the Huskies’ easy start over the first four games failed to prepare them for a Tigers team that’s been pretty great so far this year. Whatever the case, UConn’s got to start from scratch here. The good news is that they’ve scored at least 81 points in all five games—and 90 or more in four of those.
As for Colorado, they were looking great through their first four games but really hit the wall against Michigan State—despite the Spartans hitting just 2-of-21 (9.5 percent) from 3-point range. The Buffaloes got outmuscled on the boards 45-31 and didn’t shoot well from long range themselves (21.1 percent on 4-of-19). It was Colorado’s lowest-scoring output of the season (56). The Buffaloes are going to be hard-pressed to do much better against an angry UConn team Tuesday.
