Upcoming Match-ups

Colorado vs Marquette Opening Odds – Spread, Moneyline & Total for Buffaloes vs Golden Eagles

Sascha Paruk

by Sascha Paruk in College Basketball

Updated Mar 22, 2024 · 4:10 PM PDT

Marquette Golden Eagles forward David Joplin and guard Tyler Kolek hugging
Mar 22, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Marquette Golden Eagles forward David Joplin (23) and guard Tyler Kolek (11) embrace in the second half against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at Gainbridge FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
  • The #2 Marquette Golden Eagles draw the #10 Colorado Buffaloes in the round of 32
  • Marquette used a huge second half to end an upset bid from #15 Western Kentucky
  • See the opening Colorado vs Marquette odds, spread, moneyline and total

An intriguing matchup between the #10 Colorado Buffaloes and #2 Marquette Golden Eagles is now on the schedule for the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Both teams used big second halves to win their first-round games. Shaka Smart’s finally-healthy Golden Eagles have opened as four-point favorites in the Colorado vs Marquette odds.

The Buffaloes and Golden Eagles will meet at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Sunday, March 24.

Colorado vs Marquette Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Colorado Buffaloes +4 (-110) +160 Over 146.5 (-110)
Marquette Golden Eagles -4 (-110) – 192 Under 146.5 (-110)

Marquette is also a -192 moneyline favorite to advance in the college basketball odds for March 24, while Colorado is a +160 underdog to reach its first Sweet 16 since 1969.

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Odds as of March 22 at DraftKings. 

Marquette Uses Big Second Half to Get Past Western Kentucky

For 20 minutes on Friday afternoon, it looked like Western Kentucky might record the second massive upset of the first round. The Hilltoppers led by as many as ten late in the first half (43-33) and still held a seven-point edge at the break. The second half was all Marquette, though. The Golden Eagles started the second on a 15-2 run and wouldn’t just come back to win, but would also wind up covering as 13.5-point chalk (87-69).

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Leading scorer Kam Jones was lights out, scoring a game-high 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the floor, while point guard Tyler Kolek (18 points, 11 assists, six rebounds) showed no signs of rust while returning from a six-game absence due to an oblique strain.

Kolek played 38 minutes in the win. Another positive sign for Marquette, Oso Ighodaro, who has been battling a leg injury, played 33 minutes with four points, eight rebounds, and three assists.

Colorado Beats Florida at Last Second

The #10 Buffaloes have now added to the long history of teams going from the First Four to the second round. After taking out Boise State (60-53) in Dayton on Wednesday, Colorado beat #7 Florida 102-100 on Friday night in a much different style of game.

Star guard KJ Simpson finished with 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists against the Gators – including the game-winner with 1.7 on the clock – after going for 19 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists against Boise.

Colorado’s twin towers in the post – Tristan da Silva and Eddie Lampkin Jr – scored 17 and 21 points, respectively, taking advantage of a Florida team missing 7’1 center Micah Handlogten.

Despite being the worse seed, Colorado closed as a 1.5-point betting favorite over the shorthanded Gators. After narrowly covering, the Buffs improved to 19-17 against the spread this season. Marquette is a phenomenal 21-13-1 ATS.

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The winner of Colorado vs Marquette will advance to the Sweet 16 to face either #11 NC State or #14 Oakland, who both pulled off sizable upset in the first round of the March Madness bracket.

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