Arizona vs Colorado Tech CBB Picks
The Arizona Wildcats are coming off of a close four-point win against the Utah Utes, but life doesn’t get any easier, as they head to Coors Events Center to take on the unranked, yet impressive Colorado Buffaloes. [ad-4468020]
No. 4 Arizona (24-2, 11-2 Pac-12) @ Colorado (20-7, 9-5 Pac-12)
Saturday, Feb. 22 9:00 PM ET ESPN @ Coors Events Center
Spread: Arizona -4
O/U: 130.5
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ATS Matchup Insight | CP Insider Gambling Preview
The Buffaloes are coming off of a nine-point victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils—the same Sun Devils who are one of just two squads to take down the Wildcats this year.
Colorado is just 2-4 on the season against ranked opponents, but it’ll take the momentum from its most recent win into a matchup against the No. 4 Wildcats.
Arizona
The last time Arizona faced Colorado, it walked away victorious 69-57. The Wildcats were the top-ranked team in the country at that time, and they had home-court advantage—something they won’t be fortunate enough to have in this matchup.
On the year, Arizona has won games with its defense. Although the team is competent and athletic enough to remain respectable on offense—the team scores 72.8 points per game while shooting 46.4 percent from the field—that same athleticism is what has made them great on the other end of the floor.
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So far this season, Arizona is allowing just 57.7 points per game to its opponents. That number is fifth in the country, and it’s just the start of the team accolades. The Wildcats are also allowing their opponents to shoot just 38.1 percent from the field.
That number is sixth in the nation.
To top it all off, Arizona has also been very good at shutting down the three-point line, allowing their opponents to shoot just 30.3 percent in that category.
Colorado
The Colorado Buffaloes are right on the same level as the Arizona Wildcats in terms of offense. The team is shooting 44.9 percent from the field, as well as 32.2 percent from the three-point line, and its scoring 74 points per game, putting it at 100th in the nation.
Unfortunately for the Buffaloes, they’re nowhere near as dangerous on the defensive side of the floor, as they’re giving up 68.5 points per contest—the 132nd-best mark in the country.
One thing you can say about this matchup is that Colorado and its fans should get up for the competition.
Anytime you face a team ranked as high as Arizona, especially on your home court, the blood gets pumping and the energy is high.
The problem is that Arizona is one of the best teams in the country for a reason, and while high energy might make things interesting, it should be the Wildcats proving they’re the better team for the second time this season.
Prediction: Arizona 74 – Colorado 69
