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How to watch today’s Colorado vs. Boise State NCAA First Four college basketball game: Livestream options, more
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The Colorado Buffaloes face Boise State tonight for the second of tonight’s two First Four games. Both the Buffaloes and the Broncos hope to punch a ticket to the 2024 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, but only one team can move on to the Big Dance.
The road to the Final Four starts with the First Four, which is paved with heart, heartbreak and Cinderella stories we’ll be talking about for years to come. If you don’t want to miss a big March Madness moment, game or play, you’ll want to start by watching the First Four. Keep reading to learn how and when to watch the Colorado vs. Boise State game tonight.
CBS Essentials and CBS are subsidiaries of Paramount. CBS is one of the broadcast homes of the 2024 men’s March Madness tournament.
How and when to watch the Colorado vs. Boise State game with cable
The Colorado vs. Boise State game will be played on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 9:10 p.m. ET (6:10 p.m. PT). The game will be broadcast live on TruTV and stream on Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV.
The Colorado vs. Boise State game will immediately follow the Grambling vs. Montana State First Four game, which is also being broadcast on TruTV starting at 6:40 p.m. ET (3:40 p.m. PT).
How to stream the Colorado vs. Boise State game without cable
If you’ve given up your cable subscription, or your cable provider doesn’t include TruTV, you can subscribe to one of the streaming or live TV platforms featured below. Note that streaming options require an internet provider.
Hulu + Live TV/ESPN+ bundle: The one way to stream every March Madness game
You can watch March Madness 2024, including both the men’s and women’s tournaments, with the Hulu + Live TV/ESPN+ bundle. The bundle features 95 channels, including TruTV, ESPN, ABC and CBS, and includes ESPN+, so you’ll be able to watch every game of both tournaments. The women’s Final Four will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Unlike other live TV streaming platforms like Fubo (which doesn’t carry TruTV so you won’t be able to watch the First Four), or SlingTV (which doesn’t carry CBS so you won’t be able to watch many men’s March Madness games), Hulu + Live TV is the only live TV streaming platform that allows you to catch every men’s and women’s March Madness 2024 game. If you’re looking to stream just today’s First Four game, SlingTV is a more cost-effective option and you can cancel anytime. If you’re in for today’s game plus more NCAA tournament games over the next few weeks, Hulu + Live TV carries every channel you’ll need to access to watch the entire tournament, including the champion game. Unlimited DVR storage is also included.
Watch every March Madness game on every network this season with Hulu + Live TV/ESPN+ bundle. Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+. It’s priced at $77.
Sling TV: The most cost-effective way to stream the Colorado vs. Boise State game
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If you don’t have cable TV that includes TruTV, one of the most cost-effective ways to stream March Madness this year is through a subscription to Sling TV’s Blue tier. The streamer offers access to your local network affiliate’s live feed (excluding CBS) and also includes the NFL Network and March Madness games on ESPN with its Orange tier plan.
Right now, SlingTV is offering your first month of service on the Orange, Blue and Orange + Blue tiers for half price. The Sling TV Blue tier normally costs $45 per month, but you can start watching March Madness for just $22.50. The Sling Orange + Blue tier is regularly $60, but it’s discounted to $30 for the first month.
Note: Because some men’s March Madness 2024 games will broadcast on CBS, you won’t be able to watch all men’s March Madness 2024 games with a just Sling TV subscription. If you’re looking to stream the entire men’s tournament on one platform, we suggest a subscription to Hulu + Live TV.
Top features of Sling TV Blue tier:
- There are 42 channels to watch in total, including local ABC, Fox, NBC affiliates (where available).
- You get access to most local NFL games and nationally broadcast games next season at the lowest price.
- All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage.
What is the full schedule for the First Four games?
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Below, are the dates and times for the First Four games of the 2024 NCAA men’s tournament, held in Dayton, OH.
Tuesday, March 19 (First Four)
Wednesday, March 20 (First Four)
Key dates for the 2024 NCAA men’s college tournament
Below are key dates for March Madness 2024.
- First Four: Tuesday, March 19 and Wednesday, March 20, 2024
- First round: Thursday, March 21 and Friday, March 22
- Second round: Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24
- Sweet 16: Wednesday, March 28 and Thursday, March 29
- Elite Eight: Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, March 31
- Final Four: Saturday, April 6 (TBS)
- National championship: Monday, April 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (TBS)
Key dates for the 2024 NCAA women’s college basketball tournament
- First Four: Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21, 2024
- First round: Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23
- Second round: Sunday, March 24 and Monday, March 25
- Sweet 16: Thursday, March 29 and Friday, March 30
- Elite Eight: Sunday, March 31 and Monday, April 1
- Final Four: Friday, April 5 (ESPN+)
- National championship: Sunday, April 7 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio (ABC)
What is the First Four in March Madness?
The First Four is a play-in round of March Madness for both the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments. The First Four consists of two games between the four lowest-ranked teams, usually comprised of the four lowest-ranked conference champions. It also consists of two games between the four lowest-seeded teams who have earned at-large bids to the tournament. The winners of the First Four determine the last four teams to qualify for the 64-team bracket that goes on to the first round of the tournament.
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Record-high inflation in the post-pandemic era has been challenging for many Americans, but retirees often face added struggles as prices rise since many are on a fixed income. That’s why it comes as no surprise that 59% of retirees expressed concerns about their financial security, according to a survey conducted by MedicareFAQ.
The good news is that many seniors have a significant source of funds to draw from in their home equity. In fact, for seniors 65 and over, the median value of their home equity is $250,000. That’s a 47% increase in the value of equity since before the pandemic.
Older Americans who need extra funds can tap this equity to help make ends meet, and they have different ways to do it including a home equity loan and a reverse mortgage. There are important differences between home equity loans vs. reverse mortgages, though, so retirees must do more than just compare today’s home equity interest rates to decide which is best.
This guide will help you understand when a reverse mortgage makes sense and when you should opt for a home equity loan instead.
Find out more about your home equity loan options here.
When a reverse mortgage is better for seniors
Reverse mortgages use your home as collateral, just as traditional mortgage loans do — but they work very differently. That’s because you don’t send in monthly payments with a reverse mortgage. Instead, your lender sends money to you and your loan balance grows each month. When you pass away or move, the reverse mortgage must be paid back.
“A reverse mortgage is intended for borrowers over age 62 that are not able to afford their monthly payments using their current retirement income and need additional income to help with their responsibilities,” says Lisa Gaffikin, a home loan specialist at Churchill Mortgage.
Gaffikin says that if you have limited income, you may not qualify for a traditional home equity loan but a reverse mortgage could be an option. You’ll get to stay in your home without adding to your monthly obligations, while also being able to supplement your current income.
You do need to have sufficient equity in your home though, and will need to follow requirements including continuing to maintain the property over time.
“Reverse mortgages are ideal for seniors who are house-rich but cash-poor,” says Josh Lewis, a certified mortgage consultant and host of The Educated Homebuyer.
Lewis also addressed a common concern seniors have about reverse mortgages: the ability to leave property to loved ones when you pass away, which could be impacted by the fact the loan must be paid upon your death.
“There’s a misconception that you won’t have a home to leave to your heirs but that is not true,” Lewis says. “You’ll have a home, but the equity your heirs inherit will depend on how long you live and how your home appreciates over time. It’s truly no different than inheriting a home with a traditional mortgage, except the loan balance will need to be paid off through a refinance or sale within six to 12 months of the homeowner’s passing.”
Learn about how a home equity loan could benefit you today.
When a home equity loan is better for seniors
Home equity loans work differently than reverse mortgages. You’ll still need equity and must use your home as collateral, but you receive the borrowed funds upfront when you take out the loan and you must start making payments on the debt immediately.
“Home equity loans are ideal when you need a lump sum and can handle monthly payments,” Lewis says. “With lower upfront costs and typically lower interest rates, they’re perfect if you want to keep building equity and might sell or pass on your home soon. This option works well for those with a steady income who are looking to borrow for a specific purpose.”
The key thing to remember, though, is that you must qualify by showing the lender you have enough money to afford the loan payments and you must be able to make those payments for the duration of the loan term. This isn’t always easy when you need extra cash.
“A home equity loan might be a better option if the homeowner is not struggling to make current payments and only needs equity from the home to consolidate non-property debts or to lower monthly expenses for liabilities with higher interest rates,” Gaffikin says. “If the borrower is comfortable with their housing expenses and can make the current housing-related payments and the new home equity loan payment, a home equity loan might very well be the best choice.”
Gaffikin recommends looking at your full financial picture and considering the long-term implications of your decision when deciding which is right for you.
The bottom line
Ultimately, if you want to access equity with no monthly payments and are OK with leaving less equity to your heirs, a reverse mortgage is likely the better option and you should shop carefully to find the best reverse mortgage companies to minimize interest and fees. If you’d rather pay back your loan during your lifetime and can afford it, a HELOC is the better choice.
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