Cincinnati vs. Colorado College Basketball Predictions, Picks, Odds

The only good news for the Cincinnati Bearcats and Colorado Buffaloes in this matchup is that one team will finally get its first win since the Big 12. The schools have performed well in their non-conference schedules, but it hasn’t been easy since the conference portion began. They have an 0-4 record and sit in a two-way tie at the bottom of the standings. The only advantage either team has is that Colorado has covered one of its conference losses, while Cincinnati is 0-4 against the spread. With Colorado in its first season in the Big 12 and Cincinnati in its second, the programs haven’t met since the 1982-83 season. It’s time to continue our college basketball odds series with prediction and pick for Cincinnati-Colorado.

Cincinnati hit rock bottom in their last two conference losses when they scored just 88 points against Baylor and Kansas. The interesting thing about Cincinnati is that the odds still believe in them, having been favored in three of four games. The most discouraging was the loss to Kansas when they were favorites by one point and lost by 14 points. Cincinnati won ten of their first 11 games before their conference troubles began.

Colorado has its problems, but they are a little easier to solve than Cincinnati. The Buffaloes offense has been good enough to win games, but they have just been completely outplayed in their conference games. It’s easier to see a path to more wins for Colorado, especially when they were huge underdogs in most games. The most disappointing loss was against West Virginia at home, where they were 2.5 point favorites. West Virginia came into town and won by eight points.

Here are Cincinnati-Colorado College basketball oddscourtesy of FanDuel

College Basketball Odds: Cincinnati-Colorado Odds

Cincinnati: -3 (-110)

Moneilines: -150

Colorado: +3 (-110)

Moneilines: +125

Over: 134 (-110)

Under: 134 (-110)

How to watch Cincinnati vs. Colorado

Time: 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT

TV: ESPN+

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Why Cincinnati will cover the spread/win

Cincinnati has one of the best defenses in the nation, and you have to believe they’ll end up with outstanding defensive play and enough offense to steal a win. They’re still the odds-on favorite because it’s tough to bet against an elite defense, and they don’t want to be on the wrong side when the Bearcats finally get a win. Cincinnati ranks eighth in the nation, allowing just 60.5 points per game.

Why Colorado will cover the spread/win

Cincinnati’s problem is that they are learning that an elite defense will only get you if your offense can’t put enough points on the board to steal a win. The Bearcats have held their opponents to 72 or fewer points in their Big 12 games, including 68 against Baylor and 54 against Kansas. However, they are averaging just 55.5 points per game in those four games. If Cincinnati doesn’t figure out their offensive issues, they won’t beat anyone. You can’t expect their defense to hold opponents to less than 55 points every game.

The final Cincinnati-Colorado prediction and pick

Cincinnati’s defense has been elite this season, but it hasn’t translated into conference wins. Probably because their points per game has risen to 66 in conference play and their offense barely struggles to score 60 points in most games. Oddsmakers may fear being on the wrong end of the Bearcats’ offensive surge, but we’ll have to see it to believe it. The Buffaloes don’t want to lose back-to-back games at home in Boulder.

Final Prediction and Pick for Cincinnati-Colorado: Colorado +3 (-110)