UCF vs. Colorado Picks and Prediction for Saturday, January 24, 2026

On Saturday, the UCF Knights will battle the Colorado Buffaloes for Big 12 basketball bragging rights, and we have you ready to go with our UCF vs. Colorado prediction, odds, and preview. Tip-off from the CU Events Center in Boulder, CO, is at 3:00 p.m. ET.

The Buffaloes are two-point spread favorites, and the game total is 158.5 points scored.

These college basketball squads faced each other twice last season, splitting the games in their first season as conference opponents. Both home teams were victorious, and the Buffs covered the spread in both meetings. Saturday's matchup is the lone game of the season between Central Florida and CU. If you want the UCF vs. Colorado prediction, read on to get our top NCAAB predictions and increase your bankroll!

How will Central Florida respond to consecutive beatdowns?

UCF (14-4 SU, 10-8 ATS, and 6-12 O/U) was off to a 3-1 start to Big 12 play, but suffered lopsided losses to top-ranked Arizona and ninth-ranked Iowa State in its past two games. In Tuesday's road defeat, the Knights trailed by 18 at the half and never recovered, as the Cyclones dominated on both ends, winning 87-57. Central Florida shot just 37 percent, including 10-for-32 (31%) from beyond the arc, and committed 19 turnovers that led to 31 ISU points.

The Knights were 20-17 overall last season and finished as runners-up in the College Basketball Crown tournament. They struggled in Big 12 play, however, compiling a 7-13 record in their second season in the conference. Central Florida is coached by former Duke star and NBA first-rounder Johnny Dawkins. The 62-year-old led Stanford to a Sweet 16 during his eight seasons there and has compiled a 182-124 record in his ten seasons at UCF. Dawkins' Knights were picked to finish 14th this season in the Big 12's preseason poll. KenPom rates UCF 46th in the country, including 45th in offensive efficiency and 80th in defensive efficiency.

Senior guard Riley Kugel paces Central Florida in scoring at 14.6 points per game. He converts 38.2 percent of his three-point attempts. A few other Knights to watch in Saturday's Big 12 battle against Colorado are senior guard Themus Fulks (13.7 PPG, 7.2 APG, and 46.4% 3PT%), junior forward Jordan Burks (12.7 PPG and 4.2 RPG), and senior forward Jamichael Stillwell (12.3 PPG and 7.9 RPG). UCF scores 88.6 points per game (29th) and shoots 47.8 percent from the field (58th), including 36.9 percent from deep (38th). Defensively, the Knights allow 81.0 points per game (306th) on 44.1 percent shooting (206th), including 32.3 percent from long range (130th).

UCF Knights Injury Report:

• Stillwell (leg) missed Tuesday's game and is questionable to play vs. Colorado.
• Backup center Jeremy Foumena (4.4 PPG in 10.6 MPG) injured his knee in CU's last game and is questionable to play on Saturday.

Colorado has been off the mark on offense

Colorado (12-7 SU, 9-10 ATS, and 9-10 O/U) has lost four straight, including Tuesday's game to Kansas. The Buffaloes only trailed by two at halftime and were competitive for most of the game, but never led by more than three points. They shot 36 percent from the floor and 29 percent from beyond the arc, while the Jayhawks hit 42 percent of their threes and scored 19 points at the foul line.

CU was 14-21 last season, including a dismal 3-17 in Big 12 competition. It was a disappointing result for a Buffs program that reached the NCAA Round of 32 in the previous season. Colorado is coached by Tad Boyle, who has a 324-211 record in 16 seasons at the helm in Boulder. The 2025-26 Buffaloes team was predicted to finish 15th in the Big 12's preseason poll. KenPom rates Colorado 80th nationally, including 60th in offensive efficiency and 122nd in defensive efficiency.

The Buffaloes average 82.4 points per game (116th) on 47.6 percent shooting (69th), including 35.0 percent from three-point distance (132nd). Their opponents score 77.2 points per game (226th) and shoot 45.1 percent from the field (256th), including 35.6 percent from beyond the arc (302nd). Colorado is led by freshman guard Isaiah Johnson, who averages 16.0 points per game on 50.9 percent shooting, including 42.6 percent from deep. A few other Buffaloes to watch on Saturday against UCF are junior guard Barrington Hargress (13.8 PPG, 4.6 APG, and 50.9% 3PT%), sophomore forward Sebastian Rancik (12.9 PPG and 5.4 RPG), and 7-foot junior forward Bangot Dak (11.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, and 1.7 BPG).

Colorado Buffaloes Injury Report:

• No injuries.

UCF vs. Colorado Pick and Preview

Spread Pick for UCF vs. Colorado

• Buffs -2 (4 Units)

I trust the home team to cover the two-point spread on Saturday. The Knights are typically tough to defend around the rim and do an excellent job at turning offensive rebounds into extra scoring opportunities, but with two of their key bigs questionable, that won't be so easy. That's especially true against a Colorado team with plenty of size. CU does a fine job in the defensive rebounding department and ranks in the top 50 in opponent second-chance conversion rate, as well. That should force UCF into more contested mid-range shots and threes, which isn't typically its game.

On the other end of the court, the Buffaloes will knock down threes (35%) and force their way to the free-throw line, where they shoot 77.2 percent (23rd-highest nationally). With Stillwell and Foumena banged up or unavailable, the Knights could also be suspect defensively around the rim and on the glass. That's good fortune for a CU team that attempts a lot of near-proximity shots (32nd-highest NP rate).

Neither team comes into Saturday's game with momentum, but I believe the home team is best positioned to bounce back.

Over/Under Pick for UCF vs. Colorado

• Under 158.5 (5 Units)

Betting Trends: The under is 8-2 in UCF's last ten games and 7-3 in Colorado's previous ten.

This matchup pits two squads that are in an offensive funk, as they're ranked 343rd and 346th in offensive momentum, per Haslametrics. UCF has underperformed its projected offensive efficiency number in five straight games and is coming off consecutive humbling losses to top-ten teams. With a couple of lingering injuries as well, the Knights won't look like the same team that consistently scored 80-plus points in non-conference play. Colorado has also been in a rut recently, scoring 71 or fewer points in four straight games (67.3 PPG).

With both teams trending down in the standings and struggling to hit shots, the 159-point total is too high for Saturday's game.