NCAAB Odds, Pick for Oregon vs Colorado

On a neutral floor, Oregon is just 1-3, including a questionable 20-points loss to Syracuse. However, the Ducks are a perfect 12-0 in true home or road games. Since the loss to Syracuse, the Ducks have won six straight. On Thursday night, Oregon will put its winning streak to the test when it heads to Boulder to battle the Colorado Buffaloes.

Colorado won its first two conference games, but then dropped the following three. It was able to stop the bleeding with a 10-point victory over USC on Saturday and is now 12-5 overall. Colorado has won four of its past five games against the Ducks in Boulder, as well as six of the past 10 meetings overall.

Offensively, the Ducks do a lot of things well. They rank in the top 50 in the nation in turnover percentage, effective field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. They are averaging nearly 80 points per game and have cracked 80 in three of their first five Pac-12 wins. They are also 35th in adjusted offensive efficiency.

Guards Jackson Shelstad and Jermaine Couisnard are the team's leading scorers and are averaging about 29 points per game as a duo. Freshman forward Kwame Evans Jr. has been filling up the stat sheet, averaging nine points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. He is also fifth in the Pac-12 in both blocks and steals per game.

Evans Jr. got some help down low with the return of center N'Faly Dante, who played 17 minutes in Saturday's win over Cal. Last season, Dante averaged 13.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. He will look to improve Oregon both on the glass and on the defensive end.

Defensively, there hasn't been much resistance inside. Oregon is allowing opponents to make over 50% of their 2-pointers and get 37% of their points from 2s. The Ducks rank 237th and 206th, respectively, in those areas.

Get in on the action today with our Fanatics Sportsbook promo code!

The must-have app for college basketball bettors

The best NCAAB betting scoreboard

Free picks from proven pros

Live win probabilities for your bets

DOWNLOAD NOW

The Buffaloes are led by guard KJ Simpson, who continues to get better and better each season. The junior is third in the Pac-12 in scoring (19.3 points per game) and fifth in 3-point shooting (46.2%). He's also averaging 4.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game, all career-highs.

Simpson has played himself in contention to hear his name called in this June's NBA Draft. However, a pair of his teammates may go in the first round. Forward Tristan da Silva is as consistent as they come, averaging exactly 15.9 points for the second straight year. He has also shot over 37% from 3 in each of the past three seasons.

Forward Cody Williams returned to the lineup last Wednesday against Cal. He has scored in double figures in seven of nine games this season and is averaging 14.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. An efficient shooter (56% from the field, 40% from 3) at 6-foot-8, Williams may be a top-five pick in June.

With Simpson, da Silva and Williams leading the way, Colorado is shooting 39% from 3, the 13th-best mark in the nation. It is also 19th in effective field goal percentage and 37th in 2-point field percentage.

The main issue on its offense is Colorado's propensity to turn the ball over. Colorado ranks 274th in turnover percentage and averages 13.6 turnovers per game. Despite that, Colorado is 39th in adjusted offensive efficiency.

The Buffaloes are also solid on the defensive end, ranking 49th in adjusted defensive efficiency. They don't block many shots or force a ton of turnovers, but they make their opponents work and their length forces difficult shots. The Buffaloes are also 26th in defensive rebounding percentage and center Eddie Lampkin leads the team with 7.5 rebounds per game.

Sports betting is coming to the Tar Heel State! Stay up to date on the latest news about FanDuel North Carolina. 

This season, Colorado is 10-0 at home with an average margin of victory of 20 points. It also beat Oregon by 27 in Boulder last season. I anticipate a closer game tonight, but Colorado has won two of its first three Pac-12 home games by seven or more points.

With two good offenses, I anticipate a lot of points on the board. Neither team defends the 3 well and there are several capable shooters in this game. However, Colorado has the better defense and a couple of late stops could be the difference. I have to back Colorado here.

Pick: Colorado -5.5 (Play to -7)