Pepperdine at Colorado (-5.5) - 6:00pm Pacific - Game #519-520
Colorado is a young team that will take their lumps when Big 12 play begins but has been competitive in recent outings winning by 1 at Utah and narrowly losing vs Wyoming. With five freshman in the regular rotation this team figures to improve with game experience. Junior forward Richard Roby, an all conference caliber player, has gotten off to a slow start and is shooting just .315 from the floor. An early season minor hand injury is part to blame but Roby has still managed 18.75ppg in last four and is due for a breakout game. He will be the best player on the court tonight. Playing at home is always critical for a young team and the Buffaloes are 16-4 last 20 in Boulder. As young as Colorado is, they are still a Big 12 team and have enough talent on hand to beat a lower level WCC team.

Pepperdine is coming off a rough week. Two of the programs top prospects, sophomores PG Michael Gerrity and F/C Chris Oakes opted to transfer. Gerrity was close to returning to the lineup from a foot injury and was expected to be an offensive catalyst. Oakes had been struggling as the teams undersized starting center. Making matters worse was the recent loss of guard Jason Walberg to a knee injury. Walberg, son of first year head coach Vance, was the only Wave player truly familiar with the new super uptempo system. He led the team in minutes played and was second in scoring. Suddenly Pepperdine is lacking depth and after playing at Oklahoma State on Saturday will have to quickly turnaround to play at Colorado tonight where the high elevation can often be a factor for opponents. The Waves have had some close losses and are 5-2 ATS which has them overvalued, but they are only 1-6 straight up with only win coming against a very bad and very weary Nicholls State team. Pepperdine continues to struggle adapting to a new system that they just do not have the right players for, even more so now with recent personnel losses. These two teams met in Malibu three seasons ago and while few of the current players played a role in the game, CU head coach Ricardo Patton was hastily ejected in the second half after seeing the majority of calls go against him all night. He will want to be on the winning side this time around. Give the points.

RAS Official Play: Colorado -5.5   1 UNIT


Return to Record Page