Colorado State vs. Colorado Spread Pick
The Colorado Buffaloes take on in-state rival Colorado State at 9:30 p.m. ET on Friday night as Week 1 continues in college football. Is a touchdown worth laying on the Buffs to knock off the Rams or is the better bet Colorado State?
Game Snapshot
148 Colorado Buffaloes vs. 147 Colorado State Rams
9:30 p.m. ET, Friday, August 31, 2018
Broncos Stadium at Mile High, Denver, CO
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Buffaloes are 7-point favorites to beat the Rams. The total, meanwhile, sits at 65.5 points. As of this writing, 64% of the public betting tickets wagered on this matchup are on the Buffaloes.
Colorado Buffaloes
Colorado lists redshirt senior RB Kyle Evans as the co-starter on the depth chart for Saturday’s game against Colorado State. Evans is listed as a co-starter with Travon McMillan. The Buffaloes are looking to replace the production of Phillip Lindsay at the position, and while Evans and McMillan are both talented, Lindsay’s ability to make plays as a rusher and a receiver will be tough to replace. Evans was limited to just four carries last year because of injuries, but he ran for 346 yards as a sophomore. It’ll be interesting to see if one of Evans or McMillan breaks out to become the lead back in the first few weeks of the year.
Colorado State Rams
Colorado State redshirt sophomore RB Rashaad Boddie remains suspended and will not play on Saturday against Colorado. Both Boddie and Marvin Kinsey remain suspended after missing last Saturday’s game against Hawaii for disciplinary reasons. Boddie was reinstated on August 4 after being suspended from practices, but it appears that there were multiple games attached as well. Marcus McElroy will likely operate as Izzy Matthew’s backup as long as Boddie and Kinsey are out.
Betting Trends
Colorado
Colorado is 3-1-1 against the spread in its last five games versus the Mountain West Conference.
Colorado State
Colorado State has lost eight straight games at the betting window dating back to last season.
Prediction
There are plenty of question marks for the Buffs heading into the season, including at cornerback and with the run defense. That said, Steven Montez returns under center and will have plenty of athletic weapons to throw to in the passing game. Meanwhile, Colorado State is inexperienced on offense and the defense showed zero improvement from a year ago in the team’s loss last weekend to Hawaii. I’m laying the points.
College Football Prediction: Colorado Buffaloes -7