Colorado State vs. Colorado Pick
Will the points pile up when two in-state rivals in Colorado and Colorado State collide on Friday at 8PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Colorado is favored in this game, as the Buffaloes are getting odds of -5.5 points against the Rams. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 66 points. Colorado has won the last two meetings with Colorado State and the two have hit the under in eight of their last nine meetings. These two meet from Sports Authority Field in Denver, Colorado. The game will air on the Pac-12 Network.
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Colorado is coming off a 10-4 record in the 2016 season, which included a division title in the Pac-12. The Buffaloes were 9-5 with the under. Colorado scored 32.8 points per game last season while allowing just 20.5 per game. Steven Montez takes over the Colorado offense this season after throwing for 1,078 yards and nine touchdowns in limited action last year. He will be able to work with receivers Shay Fields and Devin Ross, who combined for 125 receptions, 1,670 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2016. The team also has Phillip Lindsay back in the backfield. He rushed for 1,252 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.
Colorado State already started its 2017 season. The Rams hammered Oregon State, 58-27 last week, hitting the over of 61 points in the process. Dating back to last season, Colorado State has hit the over in five straight games. The game last week was competitive in the first half, but the Rams pulled away in the second half. Colorado State finished with 525 total yards of offense, including 334 passing yards. Defensively, Colorado State gave up 456 total yards, but they forced five turnovers. Nick Stevens led Colorado State with 334 passing yards and three touchdowns. Michael Gallup added 11 receptions for 134 yards. Dalyn Dawkins was the leading rusher with 67 yards on 15 carries with one touchdown.
Bet on Colorado State vs. Colorado
I could see this game being a shootout, but history sides with the under between these two. The key will be the Colorado defense. Have the Buffaloes taken a step back from last season? Colorado State isn’t likely to put up 500 yards of offense this week, but the Rams face another test in stopping the Colorado offense. The Rams should be able to avoid the rust Colorado may have in its opening game, so I could see Colorado State limiting what the Buffaloes will do with the ball. Both teams have strong trends with the under at a neutral site. Colorado has hit it in five straight while Colorado State has hit in five of their last six.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: COLORADO STATE/COLORADO UNDER 66