#12 Georgetown vs #5 Colorado NCAA Tournament Round 1 | 2021 NCAA Basketball Expert Analysis

It’s surprise ACC Tournament champion and No. 12 seed Georgetown against arguably the Pac-12’s best team (but not champion) in No. 5 Colorado in NCAA Tournament first-round action on Saturday from the East Region. The Buffs are favored on the NCAAB odds.

How to Bet Georgetown vs. Colorado NCAA Basketball Odds & TV Info

• When: Saturday, 12:15 PM ET
• Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
• TV: CBS
• Stream: https://www.ncaa.com/march-madness-live
• Radio:com
• Opening NCAAB Lines: Colorado -5 (total 138)

Last Meeting

First-ever meeting.

Why Bet on Georgetown? | 2021 NCAA Basketball Expert Analysis

Former Hoyas legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing guided his alma mater to the NCAAs after winning four games in four days as a No. 8 seed in the Big East bracket. The Hoyas used a 34-3 run over an 11-minute stretch spanning the first and second halves of the title game against Creighton to blow out the Bluejays and clinch the league’s NCAA Tournament automatic bid.

Georgetown’s appearance in the championship game marked a first in league history for a team that was picked to finish last in the preseason poll. The 25-point victory was the second largest scoring margin in a Big East Championship Game, dating back to 1993 (Seton Hall, 33 points).

The Hoyas are Big East champions for the first time since 2007. They’re dancing for the first time in six years. At 13-12, the Hoyas are an OK team with a great opportunity.

Freshman Dante Harris earned the Dave Gavitt Trophy as the Most Outstanding Player of the Big East Tournament, becoming the 10th Hoya to earn the award and first since Jeff Green in 2007. He averaged 11.8 ppg over four games, going a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line, while leading the Hoyas with 13 assists and seven steals

We’ll see if Jahvon Blair (15.8 PPG on the season), Dante Harris (11.1 PPG in the Big East tournament) and their teammates can keep the magic going.  For the season, Blair leads the Hoyas in scoring with 15.8 ppg and is one of just four players in the Big East to rank among the top 10 in both scoring (15.8 ppg) and assists (3.8 apg). Sophomore Qudus Wahab has been a different player this month, averaging 14.3 points.

The Hoyas are making their 31st appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and their first since 2015. Georgetown is 48-29 all-time in the tournament, and 18-7 in the first round.

Why Bet on Colorado? | 2021 NCAA Basketball Expert Analysis

Coach Tad Boyle’s squad (22-8) has lost just three games since Jan. 30. The Buffaloes didn’t pick up any major nonconference wins and the Pac-12 slate didn’t match what Big 12 and Big Ten teams faced this season, but they ranked in the top three in offensive and defensive efficiency in league play.

McKinley Wright IV is a Top-10 point guard in college basketball and someone who has been waiting for this moment. Colorado blew its Pac-12 title game vs. Oregon State, but don’t let that dissuade you from this team’s ceiling. This is the school’s highest seeding in program history.

Colorado is scoring 73.0 ppg while allowing just 63.3 ppg to opponents. Wright IV, a Bob Cousy Award finalist last season, leads the squad with 15.5 ppg and 5.6 apg. Jeriah Horne (11.4 ppg) and Evan Battey (10.2 ppg) are also in double figures, while Horne is pulling down a team-best 5.8 rpg.

Colorado’s No. 3 seed is its highest since the NCAA began seeding the entire field in 1979. The Buffaloes’ previous best was a No. 8 seed, achieved in their last two appearances (2014 and ’16). The tournament berth is a sweet reward for the Buffs, as no player on CU’s roster has played in an NCAA tourney game.

This year’s tournament will be the fifth NCAA appearance for the Buffs in Boyle’s 11 years in Boulder and 15th overall in program history. It is also the ninth postseason appearance under Boyle in 10 years of postseason opportunities. Prior to 2012, Colorado had advanced to just two NCAA Tournaments in 42 years (1997 and 2003). Colorado has an all-time 10-16 record in the NCAA Tournament, and has won just two NCAA openers in the last 58 years — 1997 vs. Indiana and 2012 vs. UNLV.

The winner will face either No. 4 Florida State or No. 13 UNC-Greensboro on Monday, March 22, in the second round.

Game Trends

• Hoyas are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games.
• Hoyas are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 Saturday games.
• Hoyas are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
• Buffaloes are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 neutral site games as a favorite.
• Buffaloes are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Saturday games.
• Buffaloes are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tournament games.

Expert NBA Prediction

Colorado 70, Georgetown 66

 

---

 

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?

Bet NBA Today
MyBookie Odds for the Games

---

 

NBA Betting Center

---

---

Updated NBA Odds | Betting Sportsbook

---