Colorado State vs. Colorado Total Pick
Two big rivals meet up to open the season on Friday night when Colorado and Colorado State collide at 10PM ET. Will it be a low-scoring affair?
Game Snapshot & Odds
155 Colorado State vs. 156 Colorado
Friday, August 30, 2019
10PM ET – Sports Authority Field
TV: ESPN
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Public Betting Trends
According to the latest oddsmakers, Colorado is the favorite in this game, as the Buffaloes are getting odds of -13 points against Colorado State. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 57 points. The public betting currently has 76 percent going on Colorado as the favorite. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NCAAF Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Rams hoping to turn around the program
Colorado State is coming off a rough 3-9 record in 2018 with a 2-6 MWC record. The Rams are entering their fifth season with coach Mike Bobo. Colorado State was 5-7 against the spread while putting up an 8-4 record with the under.
The Rams bring back 12 starters from the 2018 team. Offensively, Colorado State averaged just 22.8 points per game last year despite having the 13th-best passing attack in the nation. Collin Hill took over late in the season at QB and threw for 1,387 yards and seven touchdowns with seven interceptions. Hill loses a lot of weapons in the leading two receivers and two leading rushers. The Rams also have just two starting linemen back, but neither are tackles. Defensively, Colorado State gave up 36.8 points and 451.9 yards per game last season, which ranked near the bottom of the nation. State has six starters back on defense, including three on the defensive line.
New era for Colorado
Colorado is beginning a new era in the program. Mike MacIntyre is gone after a 5-7 record in 2018 with a 2-7 mark in the Pac-12. Mel Tucker gets his first head coaching position after spending the past three years as the Georgia defensive coordinator. The Buffaloes were 5-7 against the spread last season and 8-4 with the under.
The Buffs had an offense that averaged 27.3 points per game last season. Steven Montez returns to lead the offense this year after throwing for 2,849 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. He also rushed for 238 yards and four scores. He has his leading receiver in Laviska Shenault Jr. back. LSJ has 1,011 yards and six touchdowns in 2018. Colorado also returns four starters on the offensive line this year. Defensively, Colorado gave up 27.3 points and 380.3 yards per game. The Buffaloes have five starters back on defense, three of which come in the secondary.
College Football Betting Trends
Colorado State
Colorado State has hit the under in four straight non-conference games and in six of their last seven against Pac-12 opponents.
Colorado
Colorado has hit the under in 10 of its last 11 at a neutral site and in 16 of its last 21 against Mountain West opponents.
Prediction:
Colorado has won four straight meetings with Colorado State and these two have hit the under in five straight encounters. They have scored under 57 points in four of those five meetings. Last year’s game saw 58 points get put up. I like what the Buffaloes have on offense this year, but they are still breaking in a new coaching staff, so I expect some ugly stretches of execution in this first game. Colorado State isn’t an offense that strikes a lot of fear, especially with the loss of talent at the skill positions. I don’t respect either defense, but I think this game will be about lackluster offenses rather than good defenses.
College Football Week 1 Prediction: Colorado State/Colorado Under 57