Colorado vs. Colorado State: Prediction and Preview
Week 3 of the college football season is here. Colorado plays Colorado State, and Heartland College Sports has your game prediction, preview, and betting odds ahead of the matchup.
GAME INFO
Saturday, Sept. 14; 6:30 p.m. (CT); Canvas Stadium Fort Collins, CO
TV: CBS
Records: Colorado (1-1); Colorado State (1-1)
Last Week: Nebraska 28, Colorado 10; Colorado State 38, Northern Colorado 17
Series History: Colorado leads, 68-22-2
Last Meeting: Colorado 43, Colorado State 35 F/2OT (2023)
Fun Fact: Despite Colorado’s recent struggles as a program, the Buffaloes have been able to maintain control of this in-state rivalry, winning each of the last six matchups and eight of the last ten.
Colorado vs. Colorado State Betting Lines and Odds
Opening Line: Colorado (-7)
Over/Under: 58.5
Key Players
Colorado Buffaloes
QB Shedeur Sanders
Last week against Nebraska, Colorado’s nightmarish offensive line struggles from a season ago reared their ugly head once again, as Shedeur Sanders was sacked five times and hurried another nine times while completing 23 of 38 passing attempts for 244 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. It’s the first time in his career at Colorado that Shedeur has thrown picks in back-to-back games, so it will be interesting to see how he responds this week in another rivalry game on the road.
DB Travis Hunter
There’s an argument to be had that Travis Hunter is the best athlete in college football, and to this point in the season, he’s proven that. Through two games, Hunter has 17 receptions for 242 yards and three scores on offense, while recording six total tackles and one PBU on defense. Last year, Hunter was knocked out of this game after a violent hit from a Colorado State player. The second time around will be his chance to cement himself in the legacy of this rivalry.
Colorado State Rams
RB Justin Marshall
Running the football hasn’t been a strength for Colorado State under Jay Norvell, but through two games this season, the Rams have been improved. CSU’s leading rusher, Justin Marshall, went for 106 yards against a tough Texas defense in Week 1. Then, last week against Northern Colorado, the Rams racked up 224 yards on the ground. Defending the run — and establishing it on offense — have been issues for Colorado under Deion Sanders. It could be a huge advantage if Colorado State can get the running game going this week.
DB Jack Howell
The Colorado State defensive backfield is going to be tested with Shedeur Sanders and company hoping to stretch the field vertically with Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr. However, that plays into the strength of the Rams’ defense, as it returns several starters in the backend, led by Jack Howell. In 2022, Howell led all FBS defensive backs with 108 tackles and followed that up with 114 stops last season.
KEY STORYLINES
Colorado Buffaloes
Can Colorado fix the fixables? It doesn’t appear that Colorado has found the quick fix to outstanding offensive line play, and that could be an issue for the Buffs throughout the year. However, that’s not the only thing ailing Deion Sanders’ team heading into this week. Through two games, Colorado has committed 12 penalties and lost 134 yards as a result (ranks 98th nationally). Meanwhile, Colorado State ranks second nationally with just four penalty through two games. Discipline, or a lack thereof, can be costly in games like this. Fixing that could prove very beneficial to the Buffaloes going forward.
Colorado State Rams
Can Colorado State replicate Nebraska’s success? Last week, Nebraska wrote the book for limiting Colorado offensively and attacking them defensively, taking a 28-0 lead into halftime and sitting on it for the remainder of the game. Now, CSU has the script to exploit the Buffs’ weaknesses. The question is, do they have the athletes to carry it out? Last season, the Rams nearly had a major upset victory on the road before Shedeur Sanders’ heroics won it for CU in double overtime. Can they do it in front of a home crowd?
PREDICTION: Colorado 38, Colorado State 31
Last season’s matchup was a textbook barnburner, and I don’t see much changing in the 2024 edition. Colorado’s defense will be even more susceptible with Shilo Sanders set to miss this game, and the running game just has been good enough for the Buffaloes to sustain drives and keep their defense off the field. Because of that, I think this game is higher-scoring than the total indicates it should be, but Colorado finds a way to stretch its winning streak over the Rams to seven games.
