The Colorado Buffaloes hold a commanding 42-23-3 lead in the all-time series against the Kansas Jayhawks, though the two programs haven’t clashed since their unforgettable 52-45 shootout in 2010. Heading into this Week 13 matchup, Kansas sits at 4-6 but appears to be peaking at the perfect time. Meanwhile, Colorado, boasting an 8-2 record and sitting atop the conference, looks to keep their momentum rolling.
Our Colorado vs. Kansas prediction dives into this compelling showdown, offering crucial betting insights to help you make confident picks.
Colorado vs. Kansas Betting Preview
All Colorado vs. Kansas odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Colorado -7.5 - Spread
Colorado -2.5 - Moneyline
Colorado -135, Kansas +114 - Over/Under
59 points - Game Time
3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Nov. 23 - Location
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City, Mo. - Predicted Weather at Kick
45 degrees, 6 mph winds, partly cloudy - How To Watch
Fox
Kansas’ overall record isn’t all that impressive, but the program is 4-1 against the spread in the last five games. Colorado is also red-hot, going 8-0 ATS since the first week of September.
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With a 59.5-point total, this matchup promises plenty of fireworks. The over has cashed in five of the Buffaloes’ last seven games and six of the Jayhawks’ past seven.
Colorado’s Winning Probability
The Buffs control their own destiny toward the Big 12 Championship — win out, and you’re in; lose one, and you’ll need some help. Luckily, they play two teams toward the bottom of the conference, including the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who have yet to defeat a league opponent this year.
- at Kansas: 73.0%
- vs. Oklahoma State: 89.9%
Kansas’ Winning Probability
Despite the 1-5 start to the season, the Jayhawks still have a shot at bowl eligibility — albeit a small one. To go bowling for the third straight year, Kansas needs to upset both Colorado and the Baylor Bears — queue the “So you’re telling me there’s a chance?” clip from Dumb and Dumber.
- vs. Colorado: 27.0%
- at Baylor: 34.3%
Prediction for Colorado vs. Kansas
Lance Leipold’s program has hit its stride at just the right time, ready to play spoiler to Colorado’s remarkable season. With QB Jalon Daniels back at full strength following last year’s back injury, Kansas’ offense is firing on all cylinders, ranking 19th in both EPA per play and success rate.
Meanwhile, Colorado’s resurgence has been driven by a defense that has undergone a dramatic transformation under DC Robert Livingston. After surrendering a dismal 34.8 points per game last season, the Buffs have slashed that number to a much-improved 22.7 this year.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season With CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
The numbers underscore Colorado’s turnaround. The defense now ranks 25th in EPA per play and 28th in success rate, allowing just 314 total yards per game over the past four contests.
Kansas’ methodical offense, which ranks 107th in plays per minute and thrives on its ground game, faces a serious challenge against Colorado’s defense, which boasts the 15th-best rush success rate nationally.
Kansas excels at grinding out efficient drives but struggles to generate explosive plays (55th in explosiveness). That limitation could hurt the Jayhawks’ chances of exploiting Colorado’s most glaring defensive vulnerability: preventing big plays (94th in explosiveness allowed).
On the flip side, Colorado leans on the electric duo of QB Shedeur Sanders and two-way superstar Travis Hunter. However, despite their star power, the Buffs’ offensive production has been more steady than spectacular, ranking 42nd in EPA per play and 50th in explosiveness. Over their last five games, they’ve surpassed 400 total yards only twice.
Kansas’ defense isn’t elite, but corners Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson bring a physical edge that could disrupt Colorado’s screen-heavy attack, forcing Sanders to hit on intermediate and deep throws under pressure.
This matchup is shaping up to be a true strength-on-strength battle between Kansas’ efficient, ground-and-pound offense and Colorado’s revitalized defense. With both teams excelling against the spread this season, the outcome may hinge on which gives first—Kansas’ rushing attack or Colorado’s ability to shut it down.
Ultimately, I’ll give the edge to Sanders and Hunter to continue their Heisman-caliber campaigns in what should be a more controlled, lower-scoring game than Colorado’s typical pace.
Prediction: Colorado 31, Kansas 24
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