USA - NCAA Basketball
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by Dan Angell in NCAA Basketball Picks
The Colgate Raiders (25-9 SU, 17-15-1 ATS) have made the NCAA tournament for the fifth consecutive season, and once again, they've got a tough matchup. They'll open against the Baylor Bears (23-10 SU, 18-11-3 ATS), who are also in the tournament for the fifth straight season. The days of Baylor going home early under Scott Drew have become a distant memory, as the Bears have become a reliable first-round favorite. They've also brought a better defense than last year, which should help them lock down a Colgate squad that's used to lower-scoring games.
The Raiders have struggled to score this season, averaging just 71.2 points per game. They ran through the Patriot League for the fifth straight year, but they played one of the weakest schedules in the nation. When they faced Arizona and Illinois, they couldn't break 60 points either time. The offense wasn't much better in their own league; eight of their league games saw them fail to score 70 points.
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Colgate vs Baylor Form
Colgate and Baylor Latest Matches
Colgate - Baylor Key Points
- Baylor has held its past three first round NCAA tournament opponents to 56 points or less.
- Baylor is 5-0 ATS in its past five first round NCAA tournament games.
- Colgate played under in all five of its final five regular season games.
- Baylor held four of its six small-conference opponents to 62 points or less this season.
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Our Colgate vs Baylor Prediction
Colgate played at a quick tempo in past seasons, but this year's Raider squad has been far more deliberate. That's not ideal against a strong defensive team like Baylor. The Bears force turnovers and excel at limiting opponents to one shot per trip. Keegan Records has done a fine job on the glass for Colgate inside the Patriot League, but he's facing a tough matchup in Baylor's powerful inside duo of Yves Missi and Jalen Bridges.
The Raiders don't shoot the ball well enough to offset the Bears' advantage on the glass, and that's a must if a team is going to create some March magic. With both teams playing at a slow tempo and Colgate struggling to shoot, a low-scoring game looks like the right move. Our prediction for Colgate vs. Baylor is Colgate team total under 61.5 points.
All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
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