Very few things on the sports calendar can match the excitement and unpredictability of the NCAA Tournament. So why not add betting to the mix via the college basketball odds at FanDuel Sportsbook?

The 2024 edition of the big dance has arrived, and here at FanDuel Research, we'll have you covered with a betting guide for each game.

The Colorado Buffaloes had a rocky start to the year but heard their name called on Selection Sunday after an impressive eight-game winning streak near the end of the season. They'll take on a feisty Boise State Broncos squad that fought off a brutal out-of-conference schedule during their solid season. Both teams could shake things up in the NCAA Tournament but will need to emerge victorious from Wednesday's First Four game before they can do so.

All college basketball odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook, and lines may change after this article is published.

NCAA Tournament Betting Picks

Colorado vs. Boise State Betting Odds

Date and Time: Wednesday March 20th, 9:10 p.m. ET

Spread: Colorado -2.5 (-110)

Total: 140.5

Moneyline:

• Colorado: -144
• Boise State: +120

Colorado vs. Boise State Statistical Breakdown

Advanced stats from KenPom, Bart Torvik and numberFire.

Colorado

• numberFire Ranking: 23rd
• Bart Torvik Ranking: 27th
• KenPom Ranking: 26th
  • Adjusted Defensive Efficiency Ranking: 42nd
  • Adjusted Offensive Efficiency Ranking: 25th
  • Adjusted Tempo Ranking: 165th

Boise State

• numberFire Ranking: 44th
• Bart Torvik Ranking: 41st
• KenPom Ranking: 39th
  • Adjusted Defensive Efficiency Ranking: 29th
  • Adjusted Offensive Efficiency Ranking: 52nd
  • Adjusted Tempo Ranking: 221st

Colorado vs. Boise State Best Bet

Boise State +2.5 (-110)

If you zoom out, these teams look quite evenly matched. The Buffaloes seem to have a slight edge over the Broncos on offense, but both teams played strong defense during the season. According to the rankings of numberFire, Bart Torvik, and KenPom, Colorado has a slight edge, but this should be a close one.

Colorado's white-hot eight-game winning streak took them to the Pac-12 Tournament finals, where they finally fell to the Oregon Ducks. While they struggled with consistency in the early part of the season, they seemed locked in to close out the year. That said, all that court time could come back to bite them as they seek to qualify for the NCAA Tournament proper.

The Buffaloes played three games on back-to-back-to-back days during their recent run and will be coming off of just three days of rest when they take on the Broncos. By comparison, Boise State will have had five whole days of rest heading into Wednesday's game and played just four games in the entire month of March. There's an argument to be made for rust-versus-rest here, but their fresh legs could give them the edge they need to give Colorado a real run for its money.

While we haven't seen these teams match up since November 2022 -- a game the Broncos won -- they did share two opponents during their 2023-24 seasons. Colorado State split a two-game series against the Broncos and beat the Buffaloes by five points, while Colorado won a three-game series 2-1 against Washington State, who in turn beat the Broncos by five points in their lone matchup. Boise State could certainly pull off the upset here.

Finally, it's worth pointing out Colorado's struggles on the road this season. The Buffaloes posted a disappointing 4-7 record when traveling, which pales in comparison to the Broncos' steadier 7-3 record on the road. This game will be hosted at Dayton's "neutral" location, but it's still worth mentioning that a tired team with an already poor away record will be hitting the road for its most important game of the season.

Colorado vs. Boise State Prop Bet

Boise State Broncos Over 69.5 Points (-110)

Colorado leaned heavily on their starters during their eight-game winning streak and even more so during the Pac-12 Tournament. Three of their top starters averaged 36 minutes or more per game during their recent back-to-back-to-back contests. They played some inspiring ball in those games, but it's fair to question how much they'll have left in the tank.

If their brutal March does affect how they play on Wednesday, it feels more likely to impact their defense than their steady offense. And given that Boise State already averaged 75.8 points per game this season, that makes me lean towards the over on their total points in this one.

Boise State's offense put up solid numbers against other top competition. When going against other defenses that ranked inside KenPom's top 50, the Broncos still averaged 68.1 points per game (excluding overtime contests). Even if the Buffaloes have the edge, the Broncos aren't a team that can be totally shut down on the scoreboard.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.