The First Round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament will begin on Thursday, and there are some big games set to take place throughout the day. One of the best games of the day will take place in the Midwest Region as the Colorado State Rams will take on the Texas Longhorns.
Colorado State is coming into this game with a ton of momentum as they were able to blow out Virginia in a First Four matchup. The Rams have won four of their last five games, and this team was a surprising team all season long.
Texas has gone just 2-2 in their last four games, and they bowed out early in the Big 12 Conference Tournament. The Longhorns are sitting at 20-12 on the year, but they were hoping for a much better season.
Texas is a 2.5-point betting favorite in this game, and the over/under is set at 144.5 total points.
Colorado State Wants to Defend
The Colorado State Rams just held the Virginia Cavaliers to 42 points on Tuesday night, and that defense can be dominant. Colorado State will be facing an explosive team in this game, but the Rams are tough on the defensive end of the floor.
Guard Isaiah Stevens has become a superstar on offense for Colorado State as he is pouring in over 16 points per game. Stevens showed up on Tuesday night, but there were some other players that put up some points.
Colorado State will be trying to slow down the pace of this game, and they are always searching for the best shot when they have the basketball.
Longhorns Must Make Shots
If the Texas Longhorns are going to avoid this upset then they are going to have to shoot the ball well from the perimeter. Texas has the size to score in the paint, but they are facing a Colorado State team that can make things difficult.
Max Abmas is scoring 17.1 points per game this season for the Longhorns, and he has had a great first season at Texas. This team is shooting over 36% from the three-point line, but they also have games in which they struggle.
Texas really struggled to stop Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament, and that will be something to monitor in this game. The Longhorns are facing a team with some momentum and they need to get stops early.
Rams Roll Again
Playing in the First Four might seem like a punishment for some teams, but the winners of those games typically gain some serious momentum. Colorado State was dominant in their win over Virginia on Tuesday night, and that defense should be great again in this one.
Max Abmas gives the Longhorns a player that can score points in a hurry, but the rest of this roster hasn’t always delivered. Texas struggled to get stops down the stretch, and they will struggle with the size of Colorado State.
Taking the Colorado State Rams to win this game outright is the bet to make as they are going to pick up another NCAA Tournament victory.
