Colorado Buffaloes vs
Central Florida Golden KnightsPredictions & Preview

Colorado Buffaloes to Face Central Florida Golden Knights in Big 12 Showdown; Buffaloes Favored to Cover Spread

The upcoming Wednesday matchup in the Big 12 features the (9-4, 0-2 Big 12) facing off against the (10-3, 1-1 Big 12). This will be the first meeting between the two teams since 2017, as Colorado is in their inaugural season in the Big 12. Colorado is coming off a disappointing road loss to Arizona State, while UCF suffered a tough loss to #7 Kansas. The game is set to take place at 7:00 EST at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, with Central Florida opening as the favorite at -5.5 and the line remaining unchanged.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Buffaloes +187 | Golden Knights -228
• Spread: Buffaloes +5.5 (-110) | Golden Knights -5.5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 147 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Central Florida will win straight-up is 70%.

Colorado vs Central Florida Stats

Colorado Buffaloes

The Colorado Buffaloes have struggled in Big 12 play, losing their first two games in the league. Despite this, they had some success in non-conference play including an upset win over #2 UConn. Their top scorer is Julian Hammond III, while Trevor Baskin has been a strong contributor off the bench. Defensively, the Buffaloes rank 58th in efficiency and play at an average pace. Offensively, they are ranked 197th, scoring an average of 74.92 points per game. They have had success in shooting from the free-throw line and three-point range but struggle with turnovers. Defensively, Colorado allows an average of 73.30% from the free-throw line and 32.04% from three-point range. Despite their slow start in conference play, the Buffaloes have shown potential and will look to improve in the coming games.

Central Florida Golden Knights Analysis

The UCF Knights recently faced off against the #7 team in the nation, Kansas, and unfortunately suffered a tough loss. Despite their struggles in that game, the Knights have shown promise this season, including an impressive victory over Texas Tech as underdogs. Keyshawn Hall led the team with 12 points and six rebounds in the Kansas game, showcasing his skills as their leading scorer and rebounder. Hall, a transfer from George Mason, has been a consistent performer for the Knights, scoring in double digits in his last four games. Darius Johnson and Jordan Ivy-Curry also provide scoring support, with Johnson leading the team in shooting from beyond the arc. The Knights are ranked 80th overall and play at a faster pace than Colorado. Defensively, the Knights have room for improvement, but they excel on offense, shooting well from the field and free throw line. In summary, the Knights have potential and are worth keeping an eye on in future matchups.

UCF Struggles in Paint May Impact Success in Big 12 Conference, Colorado Favored to Cover Spread

UCF is currently facing a concerning trend that may hinder their success in the Big 12 conference. The team is consistently being outplayed in the paint, as evidenced by recent games where they were significantly outscored in points in the paint by opponents like Kansas and Texas Tech. This inability to compete inside is exacerbated by UCF's reliance on perimeter scoring, as their top scorer, Hall, is more adept at slashing than shooting from long range. In comparison, Colorado boasts strong interior scorers like Elijah Malone and Trevor Baskin, who have proven their ability to dominate in the paint. Given Colorado's advantage in this aspect of the game, they are likely to cover the spread in the upcoming matchup against UCF. It is recommended to bet on Colorado to cover.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]