For Tad Boyle, the invite to the dance was never in doubt.
The lone questions were where his team would get seeded and who the University of Colorado would play.
After Selection Sunday, the college basketball betting world now knows.
The Buffaloes are the No. 5 seed in the East Region and will take on the No. 12-seed Georgetown Hoyas at 10:15 a.m. MST on Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The game is scheduled to air on CBS.
This is the highest seed for the program since 1969.
For the first March Madness betting in Colorado, the inclusion of CU should only add to the excitement.
No doubt the Buffs (22-8) wanted to win the Pac-12 tourney, but the 70-68 loss to Oregon State on Saturday night might serve as added motivation to play even better.
In other words, it might tick them off.
They may need that added motivation given Georgetown (13-12) just won the Big East Tournament and is red hot right now.
Georgetown vs Colorado odds
As the higher seed, it’s no surprise the Buffaloes have opened as the favorite at the various sportsbooks.
This is the program’s 15th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and the first since 2016.
If CU is able to get the first-round win and advance to the round of 32, it would do so for the first time since 2012.
But the Buffs have bigger aspirations, and Kevin Dawn thinks that could happen.
The Barstool sportsbook director at Ameristar in Black Hawk said that CU has the ability to make it to the Sweet 16.
If the Buffs do advance to the Sweet 16, it would do so for the first time since 1969.
Since the program was just rewarded with its highest seed since that same year, perhaps Colorado can pull off the rare double.
“They have to stop playing down to their competition if they want to make a deep run,” Dawn said. “They should get a 5 or 6 seed in the tourney, so they should have a favorable first-round game. If they can win that first-round game, who knows what may happen. With teams dropping out due to COVID protocols, they could even get a bye at some point.”
Different feel to March Madness
What adds to the anticipation and excitement is the fact March Madness didn’t happen last year.
That’s why the tournament will have a different feel to it this year.
All of the games will be played in Indiana, with the majority of the games taking place in Indianapolis.
As the NCAA website highlights:
Games will be played on two courts inside Lucas Oil Stadium, as well as Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Mackey Arena in West Lafayette and Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. Only one game at a time will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium. Teams will practice at the Indiana Convention Center with multiple courts set up inside the venue.
Buffs could be a sneaky pick
When it comes to the Buffs, they’ve been pretty consistent all season long in a tough conference.
That’s a testament to Boyle, his coaching staff and the leadership from the older players.
Now the goal is to maintain it for a few more weeks.
If you were wondering about the Final Four, Colorado has pretty decent odds that range from +750 to +900.
As Lenny Estrin, the head trader at SportsBetting.com, told PlayColorado:
“I think Colorado could be a sneaky pick to win a couple of games and advance to the Sweet 16. This is a deep squad with a lot of experience. And what I love the most about the Buffs is that they are the tourney’s best free throw shooting team. When the pressure of the Madness is on the line, you’ve got to be able to knock down important free throws, and, as a team, they do it better than anyone in the field.”
Bet wisely on March Madness
Since this is the first March Madness for Colorado online sports betting, have a plan in place for your bets.
“March Madness is a marathon, not a sprint,” Estrin said. “Bet wisely and manage your bankroll to make it beyond the first and second round of the tournament. And when it comes to identifying potential upsets, pick your spots and don’t get too carried away.”
In terms of potential traffic to the retail sportsbooks, Dawn said the business and interest are both high for the tournament.
Let’s just say it’s a good thing the snow storm happened when it did. No one would be traveling to a retail shop if this storm dropped at the start of the tourney.
It’s also a great reminder that the state allows remote sign-ups for Colorado betting apps.
“I think it being a little less traditional this year is a good thing,” he said. “There are still a ton of games on that first Friday and Saturday, but with the round of 32 on Sunday and Monday, it will be interesting. I am most interested to see how the Elite Eight games being the following Monday and Tuesday play out for betting and business.”
Now that the invite to the dance is punched, Boyle and Colorado hope to make this a memorable March.
