Nebraska vs Colorado Preview: Buffaloes Are Favored at Home for First Time Since 2021

Nebraska Aims to Finish Strong After Last Week’s Late Fade

A Colorado-Nebraska matchup would have been greeted with an indifferent yawn a season ago. However, it is a much different deal regarding the Nebraska vs Colorado preview.

Both teams hired high-profile head coaches, with Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders leading Colorado to an upset of 2022 national runner-up Texas Christian as a 20.5-point underdog and former NFL head coach Matt Rhule almost helping engineer a season-opening win over Minnesota in his debut at Nebraska.

Colorado is listed as the 3.5-point favorite in what should be an electric environment in Sanders’ first home game as the head coach at Colorado. Keep an eye on that line, as Colorado is sure to attract plenty of action from those who bet online after the wild Week 1 win. The total is set at 58.5. The total went over before the start of the fourth quarter in Colorado’s opener.

The teams combined to bring in 63 transfers, and many of those newcomers will be playing key roles in Saturday’s matchup.

The teams haven’t met since 2019 when Colorado, listed as a four-point underdog, won 34-31 with the game barely going over the 63.5-point total. The Buffaloes also won the 2018 matchup 33-28. Now, this is one of the more intriguing matchups when looking at the NCAA football games this weekend.

Colorado already matched last season’s win total after topping TCU.

When looking at the college football schedule, Nebraska plays the first of three games versus ranked opponents on Sept. 30 at home against Michigan, while Colorado faces ranked foes Oregon and Southern California later this month.

Colorado is priced at +10000 in the national championship odds. Sanders and Hunter are priced at +2800 in the odds of winning the Heisman Trophy. Sanders’ odds moved from +15000 before the season opener.

Huskers Get Defensive

Nebraska finished 12th out of 14 teams in the Big Ten in total defense a season ago, and only Northwestern allowed more rushing yards.
It was a different story facing a Minnesota team that typically is among the top rushing teams in the Big Ten.

The Gophers managed just 55 yards on 25 carries, and they finished with only 251 yards of total offense. Keep that in mind when it comes to the Nebraska vs Colorado preview.

However, four turnovers proved costly as a fumble and interception on the final two offensive possessions enabled Minnesota to erase a 10-3 Nebraska lead and escape with the three-point win.

Quarterback Jeff Sims struggled passing the ball, but has no issues on the ground with 91 rushing yards.

Quite The Debut

When Sanders was hired at Colorado, he boasted about the players he would be bringing with him from Jackson State.

His son Shedeur Sanders torched TCU for 510 yards, while former top-five national recruit Travis Hunter had 11 catches for 119 yards. He also played on defense, finishing with three tackles, an interception, and one pass breakup.

They are already being touted as top NFL draft prospects and are moving up the board when it comes to the Heisman Trophy odds.

Colorado is playing an up-tempo style of football and will look to open a season with back-to-back wins for the first time since 2020. That is something to consider when it comes to the Nebraska vs Colorado preview.

Last Meeting

Nebraska was ranked in the national polls and a slight favorite on the road according to the NCAA football predictions when the teams met in 2019.

Colorado outscored Nebraska 24-14 in the fourth quarter and won the game in overtime on James Stefanou’s 34-yard field goal. A long field goal by Nebraska was no good.

Six of the last seven games between the teams finished over the total, with the home team winning five times.

What to Expect

Look to Nebraska to offer more resistance when Colorado has the ball than TCU did. However, the question is how much offer the Cornhuskers can muster.

Nebraska will look to clean things up after committing four turnovers and having seven accepted penalties in the season opener.

Four different Colorado players had at least 100 receiving yards against TCU. The Buffaloes had three 100-yard receiving efforts in 12 games during the 2022 season.

Nebraska was just 5-7 against the spread in 2022. The Huskers did cover twice in the three games as a road underdog last season. Colorado was not favored at home in 2022.

The last time Colorado was the favorite at home, the Buffaloes rolled to a 34-0 win over Arizona as a six-point favorite on Oct. 16, 2021.

The total went under in each of the last five games when Colorado was listed as the favorite.

Colorado is 2-6 in its last eight games against Big Ten teams, with both victories coming against Nebraska. Colorado lost to Minnesota 49-7 as a 28-point underdog in its lone matchup versus the Big Ten in 2022.

Nebraska has lost three straight games against Pac-12 foes and is 5-8-1 against the spread when meeting up with a Pac-12 program since 2006.

For college football betting news, odds, analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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