Stanford vs Colorado Odds: Buffaloes Continue to Beat Projections
Remarkable Turnaround Continues for Colorado With Coach Prime
Can the Colorado Buffaloes make a bowl game in Year One under Coach Prime? They’ll look to take another step toward that goal when they host Stanford on Friday at Folsom Field.
After opening as 8-point favorites, the Buffaloes are now up to -12 (-110). They’re also -440 on the moneyline, while the Cardinal are +12 (-110) on the NCAAF line and +338 to win outright. Meanwhile, the total has dropped from 64.5 to 59 (-110 Over, -110 Under).
Read on as we break down the matchup in our Stanford vs Colorado odds preview.
Stanford Cardinal at Colorado Buffaloes 
Date/Time: Friday, 10 p.m. ET
Where: Folsom Field; Boulder, Co.
Streaming: ESPN
Betting Trends
The Stanford Cardinal are 2-3 against the spread this season and 2-9 over their last 11 games. The total has gone Under in four of Stanford’s last five games. Meanwhile, the Colorado Buffaloes are 3-2-1 ATS this college football season but 5-12-1 over their last 18 games. The total has gone Over in 12 of the Buffaloes’ last 17 contests. That’s important to remember when assessing the Stanford vs Colorado odds.
Amazing Turnaround Continues
The Colorado Buffaloes edged the Arizona State Sun Devils 27-24 on Saturday, ending the Buffaloes’ eight-game Pac-12 losing streak. Alejandro Mata’s 43-yard field goal with 12 seconds left was the difference, as the Buffaloes salvaged a push as a 3-point favorite.
In doing so, the Buffaloes continued one of the more remarkable turnarounds in FBS. After going 1-11 in 2022, the Buffaloes are now 4-2 and have exceeded their projected win total (3.0) with plenty of room to spare. It’s a credit to Deion Sanders, who overhauled the roster at an unprecedented level in the offseason.
How far can Colorado go? The Buffaloes haven’t had a winning record since 2016. But with two more victories, the program will become bowl eligible for only the third time in 15 seasons.
That’s now a distinct possibility thanks in large part to Shedeur Sanders, the nation’s leading passer (2,020). Sanders also is tied for third in passing touchdowns (16) and is 11th in completion percentage (72.7%). In the process, he’s seen his NFL stock soar this season.
As such, Colorado’s produced its fair share of offense. The Buffaloes are averaging a healthy 33 points per game, sixth most in the Pac-12 and 40th in FBS. But they’re also allowing an average of 34.1 points, which ranks 119th out of 130 teams. Until the Buffaloes can find a better balance, it’ll be hard for them to contend with the upper echelon programs.
How Low Will Cardinal Go?
The Stanford Cardinal are coming off a bye. This will be their first action since a 42-6 loss to Oregon on Sept. 30.
Projected for 3.0 regular season wins, Stanford was expected to be one of the worst NCAAF teams in the Pac 12. Through four games, it’s been exactly that. The Cardinal are 1-4, including a loss to Sacramento State.
Furthermore, Stanford has lost nine of its last 10 games dating to last season. The Cardinal are all but a lock to miss a college football bowl game for the fifth straight year. Their upcoming NCAA football schedule is brutal, with five of the remaining seven games against ranked teams: No. 18 UCLA, No. 7 Washington, No. 19 Washington State, No. 15 Oregon State, No. 21 Notre Dame.
Notably, the Cardinal have had one of the country’s least productive offenses. They’ve scored 20 points or fewer in all three conference games and are averaging just 19.2 points on the season, tied for 117th in FBS. Sophomores Ashton Daniels and Justin Lamson have split reps at quarterback, though neither has done anything to establish himself.
Handicapping the Game
Sure, Colorado might’ve crashed back to Earth after losing to both Oregon and USC. But the Buffaloes’ success is undeniable. The job Deion Sanders has done to transform the Buffaloes’ roster is remarkable. They’re not a College Football Playoff contender as some might’ve suspected following their surprising 3-0 start, but the Buffaloes certainly belong in the conversation for a bowl game. That much is certain as we survey the NCAAF standings.
This is a large spread, but Colorado should have no trouble producing points against a vastly overmatched Stanford squad. Keep that in mind when analyzing the Stanford vs Colorado odds.
For NCAAF betting news, odds, analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
