Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Colorado Buffaloes Picks and Predictions March 5th 2025

No. 9 Texas Tech Closes Out Home Slate Against Colorado

For the first time since reaching the 2019 NCAA championship game, No. 9 Texas Tech has spent three consecutive weeks ranked in the AP Top 10. That momentum should translate into an electric atmosphere in Lubbock on Wednesday night when the Red Raiders (22-7, 13-5 Big 12) host the Colorado Buffaloes (11-18, 2-16 Big 12) in their final home game of the season.

Texas Tech Dominant at Home

The Red Raiders have been nearly unstoppable at home, boasting a 14-3 record while outscoring opponents by an average of 18.9 points per game. Their ability to control games on their home court has been a major factor in their push for a high seed in the Big 12 and NCAA Tournament.

Texas Tech enters this matchup following a hard-fought 78-73 road victory over Kansas. It was a critical win as they continue to battle for positioning in the Big 12 standings, where they are currently tied for second place with Arizona behind conference champion Houston.

JT Toppin led the way against Kansas, scoring 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting, proving once again why he is one of the Red Raiders’ most consistent offensive threats. Christian Anderson was equally impressive, knocking down five three-pointers on his way to 15 points, providing a key boost from the perimeter.

Head coach Grant McCasland praised his team’s resilience and toughness after the victory.

“Credit to our guys on how aggressive we were,” McCasland said. “Even late, when we weren’t making shots and started to wear down, there was still a physical approach and we didn’t get discouraged.”

With one game remaining after this against Arizona State, the Red Raiders want to give their fans a memorable sendoff and build momentum heading into the postseason.

Colorado Struggling in Big 12 Play

While Texas Tech has been excelling, Colorado has endured a difficult first season in the Big 12, with their only two conference wins coming at home against UCF and Baylor.

The Buffaloes’ latest setback came on Saturday in a 76-62 loss to Kansas State, marking their third defeat in four games. The struggles have been consistent, and their inability to compete on the road has left them at the bottom of the Big 12 standings.

To make matters worse, Julian Hammond III, Colorado’s leading scorer (12.4 PPG), left the Kansas State game early due to a lower back injury. His status for Wednesday’s game remains uncertain, which could leave Colorado without its best offensive weapon against one of the conference’s top defenses.

Buffaloes’ Shooting Woes Continue

One of the biggest issues for Colorado all season has been its three-point shooting, and that struggle continued in the loss to Kansas State.

The Buffaloes missed their first nine three-point attempts and finished the game just 4-for-23 from deep. Their season-long struggles from beyond the arc have been glaring, as they are shooting just 32.1% from three-point range this season.

Head coach Tad Boyle did not mince words about his team’s offensive struggles.

“At some point, you’ve got to be able to make some shots,” Boyle said. “And we’re really struggling making shots right now for whatever reason. If you’re going to miss a bunch of shots, you better get some offensive rebounds … but we had only six total. That’s just not enough.”

Without consistent shooting, Colorado will need to rely on its defense and rebounding to stay competitive against a Texas Tech team that thrives on forcing turnovers and capitalizing on opponents’ mistakes.

What’s at Stake?

For Texas Tech, this game represents an opportunity to finish their home schedule strong, continue their climb toward a high NCAA Tournament seed, and stay sharp heading into the Big 12 Tournament. A loss would not be catastrophic, but it could raise concerns about their ability to handle weaker opponents.

For Colorado, this game is about playing for pride and finishing the season strong. While their postseason hopes are virtually nonexistent, a win over a top-10 opponent on the road would be a major confidence booster heading into their season finale against TCU.

With Texas Tech’s dominance at home and Colorado’s struggles in conference play, expect the Red Raiders to come out aggressive as they look to end their home season on a high note and gear up for a deep postseason run.