What could have been a Big 12 Championship Game will instead play out in the Alamo Bowl, as the No. 17 BYU Cougars take on the No. 23 Colorado Buffaloes in the only non-CFP postseason game featuring two teams from the same conference.
Thanks to the 2023 near-collapse of the Pac-12, its former members still maintain bowl affiliations through 2026, with Colorado representing the conference as a “legacy” school while BYU steps in for the Big 12.
Who will come out on top? Our BYU vs. Colorado prediction breaks down everything you need to know — from the latest betting odds to what’s at stake for both teams as they battle in the Valero Alamo Bowl.
BYU vs. Colorado Alamo Bowl Betting Preview
All BYU vs. Colorado odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Colorado -1.5 - Spread
Colorado -3 - Moneyline
Colorado -142, BYU +120 - Over/Under
54.5 points - Game Time
7:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Dec. 28 - Location
Alamodome | San Antonio - Predicted Weather at Kick
TBD - How To Watch
ABC
These are on opposite sides of the against-the-spread spectrum. BYU is 1-5 ATS in its last six games, while Colorado is 9-1 ATS in its last 10.
However, the Cougars are 6-1 ATS in their previous seven contests as underdogs, which should keep the Buffs on their toes.
MORE: CFN Betting Parlay Calculator
As far as the total, BYU bouts have gone over in seven of the past eight, including four of the past five against Big 12 opponents.
Alternatively, Colorado matchups have struggled with 50+ point totals, going over once, under three times, and pushing once in the last five.
BYU’s Winning Probability
After struggling to hit their stride in Year 1 of joining the Big 12, the Cougars erupted to a 10-2 record this season, their third double-digit win campaign under head coach Kalani Sitake. Of course, they’d much rather have played in the conference championship, but the Alamo Bowl is a solid consolation prize.
- at Colorado: 48.2%
Colorado’s Winning Probability
Say what you will about Coach Prime; he gets results. Deion Sanders took over a 1-11 Buffs team and has subsequently gone 4-8 and 9-3 — in a new conference, no less!
Colorado hasn’t won a bowl game since 2004, so expect Sanders and Co. to give their all, including star QB Shedeur Sanders and Heisman winner WR/CB Travis Hunter.
- vs. BYU: 51.8%
Prediction for BYU vs. Colorado
Colorado’s electric offense has been a force in the conference, averaging 34.5 points per game. Sanders has spearheaded a lethal passing attack, piling up 327.2 yards per game through the air and 35 touchdowns. BYU’s defense will have its hands full trying to contain them, but it’s built for the challenge.
The Cougars bring the conference’s top defense, holding opponents to just 20.08 points per game and limiting both passing and rushing yards under 200 per contest. Their offense isn’t far behind either, ranking sixth in the league with 30.75 points per game and 38 TDs.
MORE: 2024 College Football Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker
While Colorado allows only 22 points per game, its vulnerability to explosive plays leaves BYU poised to exploit gaps on the ground and in the air. Plus, the Buffs’ offense is predicated on screens and RPOs as extensions of the ground game, limiting downfield opportunities.
The portal hasn’t affected either program particularly hard, meaning we should see both at near full strength. Thus, I expect Sanders and Hunter — plus fellow WRs LaJohntay Wester,
Will Sheppard, Jimmy Horn Jr., and Drelon Miller — to showcase their talents once more this season.
Prediction: Colorado 31, BYU 28
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.