Colorado vs. Colorado State: Picks, Predictions and Odds

Partner Authors Updated: Sep 13 2024 17:35

The Week 3 college football matchup between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Colorado State Rams is set to be a thrilling in-state rivalry.

Deion Sanders, head coach of Colorado, faces off against Jay Norvell and his Colorado State squad as both teams aim to build momentum after splitting their first two games of the season.

Coming into the season, Colorado State’s quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and wide receiver Tory Horton made headlines for staying with the program despite offers elsewhere, turning down $600K in NIL deals to chase wins with the Rams.

However, Colorado State’s season opener - a crushing 52-0 loss at Texas - has raised concerns about their ability to compete at the highest level.

Adding fuel to the fire, both players recently reignited the rivalry by stating they should have whooped Colorado last season, adding extra spice to the matchup.

On the other side, Colorado also faced a difficult week, losing 28-10 to Nebraska. Amid their struggles, Shedeur Sanders openly criticized his offensive line and play-calling.

Both teams face similar issues, particularly with their ground games, but one of them will cover the spread for the first time this season.

With Colorado State's lacking defensive line, Sanders could get the protection he needs to bounce back.

Can Shedeur Sanders recover from the Nebraska loss, or will Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi rise to the challenge for Colorado State?

Colorado vs. Colorado State betting picks and predictions

Colorado -7 (-110)

Colorado comes into this matchup with a point to prove after a disappointing loss to Nebraska. The Buffaloes struggled to protect Shedeur Sanders, with the offensive line allowing five sacks, disrupting the quarterback’s rhythm.

Despite these challenges, Colorado remains a 7-point favorite, largely because of Colorado State’s glaring defensive weaknesses.

The Rams rank 117th in the nation in pass defense, giving up 34.5 points per game, making this an opportunity for Sanders and his playmakers like Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr. to capitalize.

Colorado State's offensive line, which struggled mightily in their season opener against Texas, will need to drastically improve if they want to give Fowler-Nicolosi the time to exploit Colorado’s secondary, which is now missing Shilo Sanders due to injury following the Nebraska loss.

Given the Rams’ porous secondary and weak defensive front, Colorado can win in the trenches.

Expect an intense and closely fought rivalry battle, but, with Colorado’s superior offensive weapons, the Buffaloes are the smart pick to cover the 7-point spread.

Under 58 (-110)

Despite the edge Colorado has in talent, the game total of 58 points might be ambitious given both teams' offensive struggles.

Colorado’s deliberate tempo, their lack of a consistent run game (just 65 rushing yards through two games) and their issues protecting Sanders could turn down the point total potential.

Colorado State has also struggled offensively, despite Fowler-Nicolosi’s solid Week 2 performance where he threw for 202 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score. His overall accuracy and decision-making, however, remain inconsistent.

Both teams are likely to rely heavily on their passing games and, with few explosive plays expected, this matchup could result in long, methodical drives.

Last year’s game went into double overtime, yet the teams combined for only 56 points in regulation.

Given the current state of their offenses, the value lies in betting on the under at 58, with Colorado’s superior talent and depth on both sides of the ball make them the more likely team to pull away and cover the spread.

Colorado vs. Colorado State odds

Colorado	-278 ML
Colorado State	+225 ML
Spread	Colorado -7
Total Points	O/U 58

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.