- The #2 Marquette Golden Eagles draw the #10 Colorado Buffaloes in the round of 32
- Marquette used a huge second half to end an upset bid from #15 Western Kentucky
- See the opening Colorado vs Marquette odds, spread, moneyline and total
An intriguing matchup between the #10 Colorado Buffaloes and #2 Marquette Golden Eagles is now on the schedule for the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
Both teams used big second halves to win their first-round games. Shaka Smart’s finally-healthy Golden Eagles have opened as four-point favorites in the Colorado vs Marquette odds.
The Buffaloes and Golden Eagles will meet at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Sunday, March 24.
Colorado vs Marquette Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Buffaloes | +4 (-110) | +160 | Over 146.5 (-110) |
| Marquette Golden Eagles | -4 (-110) | – 192 | Under 146.5 (-110) |
Marquette is also a -192 moneyline favorite to advance in the college basketball odds for March 24, while Colorado is a +160 underdog to reach its first Sweet 16 since 1969.
Odds as of March 22 at DraftKings.
Marquette Uses Big Second Half to Get Past Western Kentucky
For 20 minutes on Friday afternoon, it looked like Western Kentucky might record the second massive upset of the first round. The Hilltoppers led by as many as ten late in the first half (43-33) and still held a seven-point edge at the break. The second half was all Marquette, though. The Golden Eagles started the second on a 15-2 run and wouldn’t just come back to win, but would also wind up covering as 13.5-point chalk (87-69).
Leading scorer Kam Jones was lights out, scoring a game-high 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the floor, while point guard Tyler Kolek (18 points, 11 assists, six rebounds) showed no signs of rust while returning from a six-game absence due to an oblique strain.
Kolek played 38 minutes in the win. Another positive sign for Marquette, Oso Ighodaro, who has been battling a leg injury, played 33 minutes with four points, eight rebounds, and three assists.
Colorado Beats Florida at Last Second
The #10 Buffaloes have now added to the long history of teams going from the First Four to the second round. After taking out Boise State (60-53) in Dayton on Wednesday, Colorado beat #7 Florida 102-100 on Friday night in a much different style of game.
Star guard KJ Simpson finished with 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists against the Gators – including the game-winner with 1.7 on the clock – after going for 19 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists against Boise.
KJ SIMPSON GAME WINNER FOR COLORADO. 🔥🔥🔥
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 22, 2024
Colorado’s twin towers in the post – Tristan da Silva and Eddie Lampkin Jr – scored 17 and 21 points, respectively, taking advantage of a Florida team missing 7’1 center Micah Handlogten.
Despite being the worse seed, Colorado closed as a 1.5-point betting favorite over the shorthanded Gators. After narrowly covering, the Buffs improved to 19-17 against the spread this season. Marquette is a phenomenal 21-13-1 ATS.
The winner of Colorado vs Marquette will advance to the Sweet 16 to face either #11 NC State or #14 Oakland, who both pulled off sizable upset in the first round of the March Madness bracket.
The highly anticipated matchup between the Colorado Buffaloes and Marquette Golden Eagles is set to take place soon, and fans and bettors alike are eagerly awaiting the opening odds for this exciting game. Let’s take a closer look at the spread, moneyline, and total for the Buffaloes vs Golden Eagles showdown.
First up, let’s talk about the spread. The spread is a popular type of bet in which the oddsmakers set a margin of victory that the favored team must win by in order for bettors to win their wager. In this case, the opening spread for the Colorado vs Marquette game is currently set at -3.5 points in favor of the Buffaloes. This means that in order for Colorado bettors to win their bet, the Buffaloes must win by at least 4 points. On the other hand, Marquette bettors can win their bet if the Golden Eagles either win the game outright or lose by less than 4 points.
Next, let’s discuss the moneyline. The moneyline is a straightforward bet in which bettors simply choose which team they think will win the game outright, with no point spread involved. The opening moneyline for the Colorado vs Marquette game currently stands at -160 for the Buffaloes and +140 for the Golden Eagles. This means that a $160 bet on Colorado would net a $100 profit if they win, while a $100 bet on Marquette would result in a $140 profit if they emerge victorious.
Finally, let’s touch on the total. The total, also known as the over/under, is a bet on the combined number of points scored by both teams in a game. The opening total for the Buffaloes vs Golden Eagles matchup is currently set at 142.5 points. Bettors can wager on whether they believe the final score will be over or under this total.
In conclusion, the opening odds for the Colorado vs Marquette game are sure to draw plenty of attention from sports fans and bettors alike. With a spread of -3.5 points in favor of the Buffaloes, a moneyline of -160 for Colorado and +140 for Marquette, and a total of 142.5 points, there are plenty of betting options to consider for this exciting matchup. Be sure to stay tuned for any line movements and updates as game day approaches.
