Colorado vs. Baylor: Game Time, TV Schedule, Spread Info and Predictions

After a pair of exciting wins in the round of 64, the No. 11 Colorado Buffaloes and No. 3 Baylor Bears will go at it in what is termed as the NCAA tournament's third round. The Bears certainly have a high hopes, but the Buffs are playing with house money at this point.

Colorado wasn't even supposed to make the tourney, but thanks to a magical run through the Pac-12 tournament, it earned the conference's automatic bid. The Buffaloes have made it count this far as they upset the No. 6-seeded UNLV Rebels in the round of 64. Although they almost let it slip away late, the Buffaloes led by double digits for much of the contest and were quite impressive.

On the flip side, Baylor was a heavy favorite in the round of 64 against the No. 14 South Dakota State Jackrabbits, who were making their first tournament appearance. SDSU led for much of the first half, but the Bears used runs throughout the game to subdue the Jackrabbits' advances. It wasn't the most impressive win, but Baylor ultimately got the job done.

Here is the definitive guide to the big clash between Colorado and Baylor with the winner earning a coveted spot in the Sweet 16.

Where: University Arena in Albuquerque, N.M.

When: Saturday, March 17 at 8:40 p.m. ET 

Watch: TNT

Listen: KOA 805 AM (Colorado) and KRZI 1660 AM (Baylor)

Betting Line: TBA

Colorado Key Injuries (According to USA Today)

No Injuries to Report

Baylor Key Injuries (According to USA Today)

No Injuries to Report

What's at Stake?

It isn't possible for the stakes to get any higher than the NCAA tournament as the loser will be forced to go home. This game is especially big for Baylor since there were high hopes for the Bears heading into the season. They disappointed in a big way last season, and while they qualified for the tourney this year, a loss in the Round of 32 wouldn't help Baylor shed the "choke-artist" label.

The Buffaloes, on the other hand, can afford to play free and easy. Nobody expected much from them in their first season as a member of the Pac-12, but they managed to remain loose and win the conference despite finishing toward the middle of the pack in the regular season. Colorado has plenty of athleticism and isn't easy to play against on either end of the floor, so if Baylor is going to move on, the Bears are going to have to work for it.

What They're Saying

The first day of the NCAA tournament wasn't exactly laden with upsets as there were only two according to seeding, but one of those upsets came courtesy of the No. 11 Colorado Buffaloes as they upended the No. 6 UNLV Rebels. Colorado led wire to wire, and while it almost relinquished a big advantage late, swingman Andre Roberson is confident the Buffs can upset Baylor in the round of 32, according to Tom Kensler of the Denver Post.

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I feel our guys are playing well, playing with confidence, CU sophomore guard Andre Roberson said of the five-game tournament run, including four in the Pac-12 tournament. We're going to try to keep it going. I feel we can take down Baylor.

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Most Important Player to Watch: Perry Jones III

With averages of 13.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, forward Perry Jones III is Baylor's star player. Jones III was largely invisible in the Round of 64 against South Dakota State, scoring a measly two points on one-of-six shooting from the field while managing to miss all three of his free-throw attempts. The Bears survived thanks to a big effort from bench player Anthony Jones, but Jones III can't afford to disappear against Colorado.

A big part of the reason why Baylor was able to outlast the Jackrabbits was because of the athleticism advantage. South Dakota State seemed to work harder on both ends of the floor, but the Bears picked up the tempo and were able to outclass the Jackrabbits by the end of the game. That won't be the case against Colorado, so Jones III is going to have to dig in on both ends of the floor and bring his best effort. If he doesn't, then the Buffaloes have a great chance to pull off the upset.

Key Matchup: Andre Roberson vs. Perry Jones III

They aren't necessarily going to be matched up throughout the game, but there is no question that Andre Roberson and Perry Jones III are the most important post players for their respective teams. Both are capable scorers on the interior, but this game could very well come down to which team is able to hit the boards harder.

Jones leads Baylor in rebounding with nearly eight per game, while Roberson averages over 11 per contest for the Buffaloes. Neither is exactly a dominant, physical presence in the paint, but both are capable of excelling in the rebounding department. Grabbing the first rebound on defense and creating second chances on offense are two key components when it comes to winning in the tournament, and both Roberson and Jones will be responsible for that.

Prediction

Baylor 71, Colorado 64