PREMIUM
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(NCAAB) USC vs. Colorado,
Point Spread: 3.50 | -108.00 USC (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 3.50 | -108.00 USC (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: USC surprised all by opening 14-0 but never climbed any higher than the very bottom of the top-25. Now, after three losses in their last four games, the 15-3 Trojans (2-3 in Pac 12 play) will likely drop out of the AP's new top-25 poll come Monday, win or lose tonight at Colorado. The Buffaloes are 10-7 overall but still searching for their first conference win after getting routed on their home court by No. 4 UCLA on Thursday night. Colorado is off to its first 0-4 conference start since 2008-09, when the Buffs lost their first four Big 12 contests en route to a 1-15 finish.
USC: The Trojans are playing their second straight game at high altitude, after a 22-point loss at Utah on Thursday. They did the same thing two years ago and suffered two blowout losses in those games. "You just try to get adjusted quickly," USC coach Andy Enfield told The Los Angeles Daily News. "It's a big advantage for Utah and Colorado." The Trojans averaged 83.2 PPG in compiling a 13-0 non-conference mark but have averaged a mere 68.0 PPG in Pac-12 play. USC owns great depth on the perimeter led by McLaughlin (14.2 & 4.9 APG) and Stewart (13.1 & 5.3). Melton (10.0 & 5.3), Aaron (9.3) and Mathews (7.2) are also solid contributors. Up front, the 6-11 Metu (13.6 & 7.9) could sure use the return of the 6-10 Boatright (10.8 & 4.0 in five games), who may be back by the end of the month.
Colorado: The Buffs made the Big Dance last season, so this year's 0-4 conference start is a huge disappointment. Colorado stayed close to UCLA here in Boulder on Thursday but the fourth-ranked Bruins scored at will (shot 56.5 percent for the game) to win by 15 points. "When you score 89 points in your own building, it should be good enough, but against UCLA it's not," Buffaloes head coach Tad Boyle said after the game. "Not the way we defended UCLA." Derrick White (16.0-3.9-3.9) leads a trio of Colorado double digit scorers, joined by 6-7 swingman Johnson ( (15.1 & 5.6) and guard King (10.6 & 7.1). The 6-9 Gordon (7.8 & 7.9) is the team's best frontcourt player.
The pick: As we saw against UCLA, defense has been a major issue for the Buffaloes, who rank at or near the bottom of the conference with Pac-12 foes averaging 85 points while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 49.4 percent from the three-point line.The Trojans won only one conference road game outside of Los Angeles last season but they can (and will) win here. Make USC an 8* play.
USC: The Trojans are playing their second straight game at high altitude, after a 22-point loss at Utah on Thursday. They did the same thing two years ago and suffered two blowout losses in those games. "You just try to get adjusted quickly," USC coach Andy Enfield told The Los Angeles Daily News. "It's a big advantage for Utah and Colorado." The Trojans averaged 83.2 PPG in compiling a 13-0 non-conference mark but have averaged a mere 68.0 PPG in Pac-12 play. USC owns great depth on the perimeter led by McLaughlin (14.2 & 4.9 APG) and Stewart (13.1 & 5.3). Melton (10.0 & 5.3), Aaron (9.3) and Mathews (7.2) are also solid contributors. Up front, the 6-11 Metu (13.6 & 7.9) could sure use the return of the 6-10 Boatright (10.8 & 4.0 in five games), who may be back by the end of the month.
Colorado: The Buffs made the Big Dance last season, so this year's 0-4 conference start is a huge disappointment. Colorado stayed close to UCLA here in Boulder on Thursday but the fourth-ranked Bruins scored at will (shot 56.5 percent for the game) to win by 15 points. "When you score 89 points in your own building, it should be good enough, but against UCLA it's not," Buffaloes head coach Tad Boyle said after the game. "Not the way we defended UCLA." Derrick White (16.0-3.9-3.9) leads a trio of Colorado double digit scorers, joined by 6-7 swingman Johnson ( (15.1 & 5.6) and guard King (10.6 & 7.1). The 6-9 Gordon (7.8 & 7.9) is the team's best frontcourt player.
The pick: As we saw against UCLA, defense has been a major issue for the Buffaloes, who rank at or near the bottom of the conference with Pac-12 foes averaging 85 points while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 49.4 percent from the three-point line.The Trojans won only one conference road game outside of Los Angeles last season but they can (and will) win here. Make USC an 8* play.
