Colorado vs Washington State Picks and Predictions: Buffaloes' Offense Bounces Back

After losing 60-58 to the Washington Huskies on Friday, the Colorado Buffaloes will play their second straight game in the state of Washington, this time against the Washington State Cougars. 

When these two teams matched up three weeks ago, the Buffaloes won and covered as 2-point home favorites, winning 83-78. Tonight, they've been installed as 5.5-point road underdogs.

Will the Buffaloes go two for two against the Cougars, or will Washington State get their revenge at home? Find out in our college basketball picks and predictions for Colorado vs. Washington State for January 30.

Colorado vs Washington State odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

This game hit the board and has stuck with Washington State as 5.5-point home favorites, but there are some books laying 6 points at the time of writing. The total opened at 131 and has ticked up to 132 after some action on the Over. 

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until tip-off and be sure to check out the full college basketball odds before placing your bets.

Colorado vs Washington State predictions

• Prediction: Colorado +6 (-110)
• Prediction: Over 132 (-110)
• Best bet: Colorado +6 (-110)

Predictions made on 1/30/2022 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Colorado vs Washington State game info

• Location: Beasley Coliseum, Pullman, WA
• Date: Sunday, January 30, 2022
• Tip-off: 10:00 p.m. ET
• TV: Fox Sports 1

Colorado at Washington State betting preview

Injuries

Colorado: Tristan de Silva F (Out), Lawson Lovering C (Out).
Washington State: Dishon Jackson C (Out)

Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.

Betting trend to know

Washington State is 3-8 ATS as a home favorite and 1-6 following a SU win. Find more NCAA betting trends for Colorado vs. Washington State.

Colorado vs Washington State picks and predictions

Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.

Spread analysis

When these two teams met in Colorado on January 6, it was a tight, back-and-forth affair for almost all 40 minutes until the Buffaloes gained control late in the second half, eventually holding onto the 5-point home win. Colorado shot better from the floor, from deep, and won the rebounding battle.

While the Buffaloes are now on the road, I expect a similar style of game here, which has me eyeing up Colorado and the points on the road.

Colorado's strength is its defense, which ranks 49th in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom. On the season, the Buffaloes are allowing 66.4 points per game (85th in the nation) and have managed to keep many of their toughest opponents below their season averages. Most recently, holding USC to 61 points and UCLA to 71.

While Washington State also has a strong defense (ranked 28th on KenPom), the Buffaloes were able to expose them in the first matchup, scoring 83 points on 52% from the floor and getting to the foul line a whopping 27 times. 

Despite the Cougars' strong defense, fouling is their Achilles heel, as they're among the worst teams in the nation in opponent free throw attempts. This is a problem against Colorado, which averages 20 free-throw attempts per game (Top 20).

Pair that with their strong frontcourt of Jabari Walker (14.0 ppg, 8.6 rpg) and Evan Battey (12.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and you have a recipe for some positive regression from their 58-point effort two nights ago against Washington.

Like the first go-around, I expect this game to be tight for most of the way, and while the Cougars may return serve and avenge the early-January loss, the Buffaloes have the tools needed to keep this game within the number.

Prediction: Colorado +6 (-110)

Over/Under analysis

The total in this game sits at 132, and it's not an easy one to handicap. 

The first matchup's total closed at 130, and they went way Over, finishing the game with 161 points, thanks in part to nearly 50 free throws between both sides.

With that game aside, everything else points to the Under. Both teams have Top-50 defenses but are also really struggling to score on the other end.

For the Cougars, the Under has hit in their last four games and is 7-0 in their last seven home games. On the flip side, it's 5-1 in Colorado's last six games.

Additionally, Washington State's past three games have stayed Under tonight's total of 132.

I'm going to lean that way tonight but would suggest staying away as it's hard to look past the 161 points scored in the first matchup.

Prediction: Under 132 (-110)

Best bet

I really like Colorado with the points on the road.

While both defenses should do a majority of the heavy lifting in this game, I expect a much better effort from the Buffaloes' offense.

They might not come close to the 83 points they scored in the first matchup but anything in the mid-60s should be enough to keep things within the number tonight. Take the points.

Pick: Colorado +6 (-110)

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