Post Action Betting

Colorado vs. Boise State prediction: March Madness First Four odds, picks

By
Social Links for Tanner McGrath, Action Network
Published March 20, 2024, 5:00 p.m. ET
KJ Simpson #2 of the Colorado Buffaloes reacts after a 3-pointer against the Oregon Ducks.
KJ Simpson and Colorado are favored against Boise State on Wednesday. Getty Images

There’s a lot to love about the Colorado men’s basketball team this March. 

The Buffs dealt with injuries during a midseason slump, but behind improved health, they ended the year red-hot, winning eight of the final nine games en route to a Pac-12 Tournament title game appearance against Oregon — a game they probably would’ve won if it weren’t for N’Faly Dante going thermonuclear. 

They’re versatile on both ends of the court, which should help them in their First Four matchup against Boise State on Wednesday night. 

Colorado vs. Boise State prediction

Colorado head coach Tad Boyle can run almost any set with KJ Simpson at the point and Tristan De Silva at the four, from spread-ball screen to the coach’s more typical Princeton motion.

The Buffs are also lethal in transition. 

Additionally, their versatility allows them to run a switch-everything defense that defends the perimeter well, never fouls and rebounds everything. 

Boise State is also a versatile squad, but in different ways.

Tyson Degenhart #2 of the Boise State Broncos brings the ball up the court against the Utah State Aggies during the first half of their game at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on February 10, 2024 in Logan, Utah.
Tyson Degenhart #2 of the Boise State Broncos brings the ball up the court against the Utah State Aggies during the first half of their game at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Feb. 10, 2024 in Logan, Utah. Getty Images

The Broncos leverage positional size to post up everywhere on the court and crash the offensive boards relentlessly behind the three-headed forward monster of Tyson Degenhart, O’Mar Stanley and Cam Martin. 

However, the Broncos could struggle to score on the low block against Colorado’s Eddie Lampkin, while Simpson and backcourt mate J’Vonne Hadley are big guards who can bang bodies one through five.

And the Broncos won’t generate second-chance points against the Pac-12’s best defensive rebounding team. 

The Post has you covered with a printable NCAA bracket featuring the full 68-team March Madness 2024 field.

Betting on March Madness 2025?

The Buffs’ defense should hang with Boise, but we can’t say the same vice versa.

Boise is bigger in the backcourt but smaller in the frontcourt, so the Broncos’ interior defense is highly vulnerable and that will hurt against Colorado’s downhill rim-running ability.

Additionally, the Broncos boast a brutal transition defense, so the Buffs can run them off the floor. 

I love this matchup for a surging Colorado team. 

The play: Colorado -2.5 (-110, PointsBet)