Colorado at Oregon Lines, Expert Pick & TV Info

No. 7 Oregon continues to battle No. 5 Arizona for the Pac-12 regular-season title, and on Saturday the Ducks play their final home game of the season against Colorado. Few schools have a bigger home-court advantage than Oregon does, but its final three games are away and then come the conference and NCAA Tournaments. Oregon will be a double-digit college basketball lines favorite vs. Colorado.

Colorado at Oregon Lines, Expert Pick & TV Info

When: Saturday, Feb. 18, 3 PM ET Where: Matthew Knight Arena, Eugene TV: Fox Opening NCAAB Lines: Oregon favored by TBA

Why Bet On Colorado?

After a disastrous 0-7 start in Pac-12 play, wins in six of their past seven games has given the Buffs the belief they are peaking at the right time of the season. If the regular season had ended Monday, the Buffs would begin the Pac-12 tournament as the league’s No. 8 seed with a first-round date against Stanford. After allowing nearly 84 points per game in the first seven, CU’s defense has cut that number down to 68.2 over the last seven. The Buffs have also shot considerably better from the field (.474 to .449) in the stretch, have cut opponents’ shooting percentage from 48.1 percent down to 43.5 and have reversed their turnover margin: from a minus 4.0 in the first seven to a plus 3.5. Buffs senior Derrick White is second in the Pac-12 in scoring in conference games (18.9 ppg) and has scored at least 16 points in CU's last five games. He’s also averaging almost five assists per game in conference play. White and Washington’s Markelle Fultz are the only two players in the Pac-12 to rank in the league’s top 10 in scoring, assists and blocked shots. He is fifth in scoring, sixth in assists, ninth in blocks, 12th in assist-to- turnover ratio (1.7) and 15th in steals. Colorado is averaging 76.3 points per game while shooting 45 percent from the field. The Buffaloes have allowed 71.7 points on 42 percent shooting. Colorado is second in the Pac-12 in offensive rebounds (12.2 orpg), while ranking fourth in overall boards (38.7 rpg) and fifth in assists (14.2 apg), rebounding margin (+4.2), defensive boards (26.5 drpg) and 3-point defense (.347). It remains an uphill climb for the Buffs to even join the conversation for the NCAA Tournament bubble (CU began Monday at No. 102 in the RPI), yet they remain well-positioned for a strong finish that, at the very least, would leave CU with a favorable position in the NIT.

Why Bet On Oregon?

Two of the Ducks’ best players, Dylan Ennis and Chris Boucher, are from Canada, not exactly a hoops hotbed. The past two seasons have seen a role reversal for the two seniors. A year ago, Ennis was reduced to cheerleading on the bench as he nursed his foot injury. Boucher started 35 of 38 games, earning honorable mention all-conference and first-team Pac-12 all-defense mention while becoming the third D-I player since 1996-97 to have both 100 blocked shots and 35 made three-pointers. This season, it’s been Boucher coming off the bench since a midseason ankle injury; he’s still averaging 12.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. Ennis is one of two players to start all 27 games this season. He leads the Ducks at 30.3 minutes per game, while contributing 10.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists. Jordan Bell is the only player in the Pac-12 ranked in the top 10 in rebounds (9th), blocks (4th) and steals (9th). He is also second in the league in field goal percentage (.614). The Ducks lead the nation at 6.9 blocks per game, and also lead the nation in total blocks with 179. Individually, Boucher is 13th nationally in blocks per game (2.7), with Bell 38th (2.1 bpg). As of Thursday’s game vs. Utah, Oregon’s winning streak at Matthew Knight Arena was at 40 games, which is both the longest string of home wins in UO history, and the longest active home winning streak in the nation. Oregon last dropped a home game Jan. 8, 2015 (Arizona, 80-62). Two of Oregon’s four longest home winning streaks have come under Dana Altman. Last season, Oregon finished undefeated at home (18-0) for just the fifth time in school history, and for only the second time in the last 78 years. The other undefeated home seasons are 2001-02 (16-0), 1937-38 (16-0), 1925-26 (6-0) and 1911-12 (7-0). Oregon was upset at Colorado 74-65 on Jan. 28. White led the Buffaloes with 23 points, including 17 in the second half. White had a 3-pointer, a three-point play and two free throws in an 11-1 run that gave Colorado a 64-52 lead. The Ducks entered on a 17-game winning streak. Oregon shot just 38 perfect from the field and 32 percent from long range while only getting to the line 16 times.

Colorado at Oregon Expert Pick: Oregon Ducks

Last home game for Oregon seniors and payback for earlier loss: Ducks will crush Buffs.