In the thrilling realm of the NCAA Tournament, scoring prowess often separates the contenders from the pretenders. As we dive into the second round, all eyes are on a South Region showdown that promises fireworks: Colorado vs Marquette in Indianapolis (12:10 pm ET, CBS). Both teams showcased their offensive might in the first round, with 14 teams hitting the 85-point mark, including these two powerhouses. But as they prepare to battle it out, the question looms: who will advance to the Sweet Sixteen?
Second-seeded Marquette (26-9) found themselves trailing at halftime in their opener against #15 Western Kentucky. However, a second-half surge saw them outscore the Hilltoppers 51-26, cruising to an 87-69 victory. Now, the Golden Eagles are on a mission to advance past the second round, a hurdle that tripped them last season, and reach the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2013.
On the other side, the tenth-seeded Buffaloes (26-10) are chasing history. Their last Sweet Sixteen appearance dates back to 1969, a time when the NCAA Tournament was a 25-team affair. They edged past seventh-seeded Florida 102-100 in a nail-biter, with KJ Simpson delivering the winning baseline jumper with 1.7 seconds on the clock.
Odds provided by BetOnline highlight a tight contest:
For those looking for more betting insights, our NCAA basketball picks page is brimming with predictions for today's action.
Colorado's offensive explosion against Florida was a stark contrast to their First Four performance. Despite their impressive 63% shooting against the Gators, duplicating that feat against Marquette's stout defense, ranked 18th in Division I, seems a tall order. Yet, with both teams' offensive efficiency and shooting prowess, an early high-scoring affair is anticipated.
Marquette's flawless 16-0 SU and 13-3 ATS record when scoring 80+ points, alongside Colorado's 15-1 SU and 11-5 ATS in similar scenarios, underline the potential for an offensive showdown. However, Colorado's struggle as an underdog and in high-scoring games could tilt the scales in Marquette's favor.
Given Marquette's impressive 22-4 SU and 18-8 ATS record as a favorite, the smart money might be on Marquette -4.5 & Over 149. For those seeking an edge, consider Kam Jones (Marquette) Over 2.5 Made Threes. Jones, who lit up Western Kentucky, seems poised to exploit a Colorado defense that allowed 11 threes in its last outing.
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