Oklahoma vs. Colorado College Basketball prediction, preview (8:00PM ET on Wednesday in Las Vegas, NV)
The Sooners were one of the last teams left out of the NCAA Tournament, and unlike Auburn, declined a NIT bid to go to Las Vegas and play in the Crown Tournament. Teams will be competing for a cash prize, and it seems Oklahoma is committed to taking it seriously.
The Sooners will have a full roster available, and had been playing very well down the stretch this season. After a tough start to SEC play, Oklahoma ripped off six wins over the last seven games, going 7-0 ATS in that span — the lone loss was by three points to Arkansas in the SEC Tournament. The Sooners rank 16th on KenPom in offensive efficiency, and should be able to get what they want on that side of the floor against a Colorado defense that ranks just 126th in defensive efficiency.
The Buffaloes had four players that averaged in double digits in the scoring column this season, and three of them have opted out of playing in the Crown. That includes their leading scorer, freshman guard Isaiah Johnson, who was putting up nearly 17 per game. The Buffs will also be without Sebastian Rancik and Bangot Dak, who are their top-two rebounders, and combined to average nearly 24 points per game.
Colorado will be extremely shorthanded against a very good Oklahoma team, and it’s tough to see the Buffs finding a way to win this game. I lean towards laying the 9.5 with OU, but have incorporated the moneyline into a couple of plays. I used the Sooners in a moneyline parlay with Auburn in the NIT on Thursday, who will play Illinois State. The Tigers rank 12th in offensive efficiency and have size and rebounding edges in the matchup.
I also played the Sooners to win the Crown Tournament, which would involve winning on Saturday and Sunday if they can advance past the Buffs. Oklahoma figures to be favored in each game along the way, with the toughest test likely coming in Baylor in the second round. I also think playing the Sooners on the double result (Halftime/Fulltime line on DraftKings Sportsbook) is worth a look. The -190 price tag is a bit juicy, but also the best price in market.
