While Colorado‘s win total of 5.5 has tempted many sports betters in the world of college football, ESPN Bet’s Tyler Fulghum is not one of them.
Fulghum mentioned his intention to stay away from betting on Colorado’s over-win total on a recent episode of Always College Football.
“The Buffaloes are clearly a team that everyone has their eye on,” Fulghum said. “When everyone has their eye on a program, that’s usually where the bookmakers are sharpest, you know what I’m saying? I’m staying away from Colorado.”
While the 5.5 win total for the Buffs sounds low on paper, their schedule isn’t easy. The team would need to find six wins against a schedule that features Nebraska, UCF, No. 18 Kansas State, No. 21 Arizona, Texas Tech, No. 12 Utah, No. 22 Kansas, and No. 17 Oklahoma State.
CU will likely enter each of those games as an underdog on most major sports books, while the team has a chance to be favored in their other matchups against North Dakota State, Colorado State, Baylor, and Cincinnati.
“I think a lot of people are going to say, ‘What, they won four games last year? Now they have to increase on that by two?’” Fulghum continued. “The over 5.5 is something, I think, a lot of people may look at and say, ‘Nah, they can’t do that.’ But I think Coach Prime is a good coach. I think a year of that program? The transfers and weeding out of the former Buffaloes that he didn’t think fit his program. A year of development for his son, Shedeur Sanders? Travis Hunter, who might be the best overall college football player in the country? When you have two talents like that, man, I think you can go almost anywhere on any given Saturday and win.”
Fulghum finished his thoughts by saying, “Now, of course, defense and offensive line play were a problem. I’ll have to wait until I see them on the field before I get a firmer grip on how good this team actually is. Wouldn’t be surprised if they’re a five-win team, a six-win team, a four-win team, or an eight-win team.”
Colorado will have a chance to prove Fulghum wrong when they kick off the 2024 season on Thursday, August 29th vs. North Dakota State.
