Despite skeptics, Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes are finding their stride in the unpredictable Big 12—a storyline that also fits Scott Satterfield’s Cincinnati Bearcats.
Both teams, coming off a combined 9-17 record in their head coaches’ debut seasons, have bounced back to a solid 5-2. This Saturday night, they’ll face off with bowl eligibility on the line in Year 2. Let’s dive into which team holds the edge in our Cincinnati vs. Colorado matchup prediction.
Cincinnati vs. Colorado Betting Preview
All Cincinnati vs. Colorado odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. The CFN Spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Colorado -5.5 - Spread
Colorado -6 - Moneyline
Colorado -225, Cincinnati +185 - Over/Under
57 points - Game Time
Oct. 26, 10:15 p.m. ET - Location
Folsom Field | Boulder, Colo. - Predicted Weather at Kick
59 degrees, clear, five mph winds - How To Watch
ESPN
The spread now sits at Colorado -6 as the public betting moved it from -4 at open, all the way up to -7 at a time earlier in the week. With a total of 57 points, Vegas’ numbers imply a score close to 32-26 in favor of the Buffaloes.
MORE: CFN Betting Parlay Calculator
Cincinnati’s Winning Probability
FPM is closely aligned with the Vegas spread, giving Cincinnati a 35.9% chance to win the game, translating to an implied spread of about 5.5 points. The Bearcats have a difficult schedule, as they’re currently underdogs in four of five remaining games.
- at Colorado: 34.9%
- vs. West Virginia: 47.2%
- at Iowa State: 17.9%
- at Kansas State: 19.8%
- vs. TCU: 50.4%
Colorado’s Winning Probability
The Buffaloes are off to a better start than last year but only slightly, and thoughts of 2023’s late-season collapse could linger. The Buffaloes have a 65.1% chance to win Saturday, making it their easiest remaining game. While they’ll be favorites in four of five remaining games, three have spreads of three or fewer points.
- vs. Cincinnati: 65.1%
- at Texas Tech: 46.2%
- vs. Utah: 50.4%
- at Kansas: 57.4%
- vs. Oklahoma State: 57.4%
Prediction for Cincinnati vs. Colorado
Both statements can hold true: 1) Colorado and Cincinnati have kicked off with strong starts under their often-debated second-year coaches, and 2) this early success might be a bit of a mirage.
The FPM projections highlight the stakes here—not just in terms of stats but for the storyline of each program. The winner on Saturday secures bowl eligibility and possibly more, with several favorable matchups still on the calendar.
For the loser, however, a 5-3 record sets up a tough path forward, filled with challenging games. Cincinnati, in particular, would love to clinch that sixth win sooner rather than later, as they face an unpredictable West Virginia squad and road games against two Big 12 title contenders.
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There’s a lot riding on this one, adding serious weight to this coaching face-off.
On the field, I decided to skip the pre-season noise around Colorado and just enjoy the ride. Here’s what we know about the Buffaloes:
The defense has made impressive strides from last season, but the offensive line has struggled to keep up, leading to a lack of balance on offense. Despite this, defensive improvements have allowed Colorado to coast through a few second halves, even giving Travis Hunter a breather after halftime last week.
For Cincinnati, Brendan Sorsby has emerged as a standout, exceeding my expectations. The Bearcats have flown under the radar this season, adding a layer of mystery to their performance.
I have faith in Colorado’s defense and, of course, in Hunter and Shedeur Sanders. It appears now that Hunter will be a full go, on both sides of the ball.
While I think Vegas has set a fair line, I see value in the under, given Cincinnati’s trend toward lower-scoring games.
I’m leaning toward the Buffaloes but especially like the under on the total.
Prediction: Colorado 27, Cincinnati 21
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