Memphis vs. Colorado State: 2025 NCAA Tournament Odds & Picks

by BettingPros Staff |
Mar 16, 2025

The 2025 NCAA Tournament is officially here! The March Madness Bracket is set, and first-round NCAA Tournament matchups are in place. It’s time to make your picks and predictions for the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament! We’re here to help as we’ll have picks and predictions for each of the first-round 2025 NCAA Tournament games. Here are our top picks and predictions for Memphis vs. Colorado State.

2025 NCAA Tournament Odds & Picks: Memphis vs. Colorado State

Let’s dive into our top picks and predictions for this opening-round NCAA Tournament matchup.

2025 NCAA Tournament Preview: Memphis vs. Colorado State

Memphis 2025 NCAA Tournament Preview

After running through the American conference, Memphis finds itself back in the NCAA Tournament under Penny Hardaway. Dain Dainja is an all-name team and a dominant force down low, helping Memphis own a top-10 near-proximity shooting percentage while AAC Player of the Year PJ Haggerty can get to the charity stripe while cashing it from deep, along with Tyrese Hunter. This is a team that isn't deep but plays fast and with their identity clear.

Memphis also went out of its way to schedule a difficult non-con schedule, the fourth most difficult in the nation. They have wins over Missouri, Michigan State, Clemson, and Ole Miss. Their conference play was just as impressive, going 16-2 without faltering in the conference tournament. Their metrics may not have impressed but their record was, and when they played greater competition, they stepped up to the plate as shown by their 12th-ranked paper tiger metric.

They can sling it from deep but if that isn't working, they can lean on over 20 percent of their points coming from the charity stripe with a top-40 offensive rebounding percentage. Their defense isn't elite in any one clip but well-rounded across the board with a high turnover clip and limiting opponent shooting percentage at a top-75 ranking in all three levels.

This is a team, as referenced by Will Warren, that needs to be taken seriously. They handled some tough non-conference play and it's tough to judge them during the dog days of February while still winning their conference tournament. This is a team that has played plenty of close games and found ways to win. Don't be surprised to see a few of those in the tournament either.

Colorado State 2025 NCAA Tournament Preview

You can't start any Colorado State preview without discussing Nique Clifford. Ranking as the second-most indispensable player in DI per EvanMiya, and sixth in KenPom's Player of Year rankings, this 6-6 forward averages a near double-double a game with 20-10, shooting nearly 40% from deep and scoring 24-plus points in five of his final six games. On the season as a whole, the Rams rank outside the top 40, but this is a team that has found its groove and is playing its best ball entering the tournament.

Since February 15th, Colorado State has gone 10-0, ranking eighth in hoops with a top-10 defense. Even pushing back to January 1st, this is still a much better team than their seeding suggests, going 17-3 with a 27th overall ranking and a top-16 offense. This team can score from all levels of the court with a top-15 perimeter shooting percentage and top-25 near proximity percentage.

Defensively, they'll limit opponents on the offensive glass, and won't allow much inside. On paper, no team has more momentum with a pure identity running through Nique Clifford. It's tough to trust a Mountain West conference team but they simply can't lose, and their closest win was by eight points during their current 10-game streak. Kyan Evans adds a 43% shooting clip from deep while Jaylen Crocker-Johnson and Rashaan Mbemba are effective in the frontcourt. Size might be a bit of an issue against some bigger centers and forwards but the Rams have the opportunity to surprise those who haven't been paying attention recently.

2025 NCAA Tournament Predictions: Memphis vs. Colorado State

Colorado State is one of the hottest teams in the country. The Rams just won the Mountain West Conference Tournament and have won 10 straight games. It's an impressive turnaround for a team that was ranked outside the top 100 at KenPom back in December. Niko Medved's team is completely different now, and senior wing Nique Clifford has quickly risen up NBA Draft boards. Since the 10-game win streak began, Colorado State is the 8th-best team in the sport, according to BartTorvik. Memphis comes in hot as well, winning the American Athletic tournament and going 16-2 in conference play. However, the lack of real competition in the AAC has to be considered. Memphis could be without point guard Tyrese Hunter after he got hurt in the conference tournament. The Tigers also have two major weaknesses offensively, ranking 306th in offensive turnover rate and 250th in free-throw shooting percentage. Those are back-breakers against other quality teams like Colorado State, who just can't lose right now.

2025 NCAA Tournament Picks: Memphis vs. Colorado State

Colorado State ML (-132)

Check out all of our 2025 NCAA Tournament Bracket & Betting Coverage >>

2025 NCAA Tournament Sports Betting Picks

For those looking to place bets on the matchups, let's take a look at the early odds and picks for the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

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