Colorado St. vs. Colorado Prediction
Two in-state rivals collide on the football field tonight when Colorado faces Colorado State at 8PM ET from Sports Authority Field.
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Colorado is the favorite in this game, as the Buffaloes are getting odds of -8.5 points against Colorado State. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 59 points. These two have alternated wins over their last five meetings. Colorado State is 2-1-1 against the spread in the last four encounters.
Bet on Colorado State vs. Colorado
Colorado is coming off a 4-9 season in 2015, but that included a 27-24 OT win over Colorado State. The Buffaloes lost eight of their last nine games. Sefo Liufau returns this season as the quarterback. He threw for 2,418 yards and 9 touchdowns last season while rushing for 266 yards and five scores. However, he will have to find new playmakers, as Nelson Spruce is now in the NFL. He caught 89 passes for 1,053 yards and four scores in 2015. Leading rusher Phillip Lindsay is back, however. He rushed for 653 yards and six scores in 2015. Defensively, Colorado ranked 105th nationally last year, allowing 417 yards and 27.5 points per game.
Despite the loss to Colorado last season, the Rams went 7-6 in 2015. Like the Buffaloes, the Rams also return their quarterback in Nick Stevens. He threw for 2,679 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2015 as a sophomore. He also lost his top WR in Rashard Higgins, who caught 75 passes for 1,062 yards and eight touchdowns. Dalyn Dawkins does return in the backfield after rushing for 867 yards and two scores in 2015. The Rams had a better defense than Colorado from last season, but not by much. The Rams gave up 395 yards and 27.2 points per game.
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These two have a real rivalry with each other, so expect an emotional and physical football game tonight at the home of the Broncos. Colorado State has kept things close with Colorado over the last few years and I expect more of the same today. Both rosters have a similar makeup in terms of question marks coming into the season. Both defenses are suspect, but Colorado’s numbers from 2015 are inflated by playing in the Pac-12. Look for this game to be a grind for both and to be decided by one score.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 1 PREDICTION: COLORADO STATE +8.5