Oregon vs. Colorado prediction and odds for Thursday, January 5 (Home court is huge in Boulder)

The middle of the Pac 12 still needs to sort itself out. We’re very early in the conference season, but the top teams have begun to separate and the bottom teams are in the basement, but Colorado and Oregon are both in the middle of this conference.

The Ducks are 8-6, but have won two of their three conference games this year, while the Buffaloes are 9-6 and 1-3 in the Pac 12.

Last time out the Buffs lost 80-76 to 2-13 Cal, so a bounce back is in order and Vegas thinks they’ll get it. Let’s take a look at the odds for this Pac 12 matchup in Boulder.

Oregon vs. Colorado Odds, Spread and Total

Oregon vs. Colorado Prediction and Pick

Colorado had no business losing a game to Cal last week and it was a pretty embarrassing loss considering Cal turned it over 21 times and both teams made the same number of treys. Cal outrebounded the Buffs badly, 36-23 and made 15 free throws and that was the difference.

Colorado is a better team than that performance and I think it’ll show it in this one. The Buffaloes are actually the fourth best rebounding team in the conference even with their guard-heavy lineup.

Oregon is a huge team, so this will be an interesting matchup of differing styles. The Ducks start N’Faly Dante a 6-foot-11 center and Quincy Guerrier a 6-foot-8 forward with two big guards, Will Richardson and Rivaldo Soares and then 6-foot-3 Brennan Rigsby.

Then, the Ducks bring 7-foot, Kel’el Ware off the bench. They lose some of their size with another backup 7-footer, Nate Bittle injured. This size forces them to play slow, 286th in possessions per game, and the Buffaloes will run them off the floor in the thin Colorado air. Colorado is 39th in possessions per game and is nearly the same offensive efficiency.

It could come down to who is better between Will Richardson and KJ Simpson, but I think Colorado’s home-court advantage really matters. The team is 1-3 on the road, but 6-1 at home.

Follow all Josh Yourish’s bets HERE

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change