Colorado Aims to Seal Tournament Bid Against California – But It May Not Be Enough
In a crucial late-season matchup with massive NCAA Tournament implications, the Colorado Buffaloes (20-7, 10-2 at home) host the California Golden Bears (16-12, 6-10 conference) on February 28th, 2024. Despite holding statistical advantages in key areas like points per game, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and 3-point shooting, the Buffaloes find themselves in 5th place in the Pac-12 and squarely on the bubble.
WagerWeb Sportsbook has Colorado favored by 11 with a total of 151.5.
Buffaloes Poised for a Statement Win – While Fighting for Their Tournament Lives
Even a big win might not be enough, as ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi suggests they’d likely need to capture the Pac-12 title to secure a bid. With Barttorvik’s TourneyCast giving them just a 48% chance to make the dance, the pressure is on. Expect them to come out firing, hoping for a decisive victory that showcases their tournament worthiness.
Predictive Model Agrees: Decisive Colorado Victory
Our predictive model aligns with the betting odds (Colorado favored by 11 with a 151 total), forecasting an 84-73 Colorado win. We believe Colorado could win by an even larger margin, covering the number and making a strong statement.
Can California Pull Off a Season-Defining Upset?
The Golden Bears face long odds, but anything can happen in college basketball. Can they shock the Buffaloes and derail their tournament hopes? Or will Colorado deliver a knockout blow, boosting their resume even if the ultimate goal of a tourney bid remains elusive?