Everybody seems to be walking on eggshells, surprisingly, as the Nebraska Cornhuskers prepare to take on the Colorado Buffaloes.
Though one might expect some trash-talking ahead of the annual rivalry game between old Big 8 opponents, it’s eerily quiet, and there seems to be a bit of nervous energy from both sides.
Colorado vs. Nebraska Betting Preview
The game is a clash of styles, as Deion Sanders and Colorado stay in the national spotlight while Matt Rhule seems to be quietly rebuilding the former nationally relevant Nebraska. Shedeur Sanders and the Buffaloes’ potent passing attack face off against the Cornhuskers’ defense-first style.
But there’s a new X-factor, as Nebraska freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola will influence this game’s prediction.
All Colorado vs. Nebraska odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Sept. 7.
- Spread
Nebraska -6.5 - Moneyline
Nebraska -230, Colorado +190 - Over/Under
55.5 points - Game time
7:30 p.m. ET - Location
Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE. - Predicted Weather at Kick
73 degrees, 5 mph winds, sunny - How to Watch
FuboTV, NBC
First of all, it’s important to know that Colorado and Nebraska hate each other. Both teams have not been nationally relevant in a while, which makes this year’s game the most intriguing in the rivalry’s recent history.
If you’re going to take advantage of the odds, consider a few of these factors first.
Last year, Colorado impressed out of the gate but came back to earth as the year progressed, with the Buffaloes’ lack of depth becoming apparent as the season wore on. Similarly, Nebraska had flashes in Rhule’s first year with the program, but the offense just couldn’t get going, leading to plenty of frustration among the fan base.
That may be a thing of the past, as the Cornhuskers landed the five-star quarterback Raiola in the 2024 class. The true freshman quickly won the starting job over the summer, and already, after one week, some have declared him the best downfield passer in Nebraska history.
The freshman will face a slightly tougher test in Colorado (though not much tougher, per most advanced metrics), but he has an arm that can really do damage to go along with Nebraska’s elite defense and steady running game.
Can Colorado get a few stops on defense, or will Sanders and Co. need to score almost every possession to have a chance? And will the Buffaloes have success on the ground, or is it all on Sanders, Travis Hunter, and Jimmy Horn Jr. through the air?
The line sits a Nebraska -7, so surprisingly, little has changed from its initial release months ago.
Can the Cornhuskers cover, or will Colorado make it a game or even win outright?
Prediction for Colorado vs. Nebraska
I’m certainly not a Deion Sanders hater, and I think the Buffaloes will challenge for a bowl this year, but with that being said, back the Cornhuskers.
This was actually my first bet of the college football season when lines for marquee matchups were released over the summer, and I took the Cornhuskers -6.5.
This line weirdly hasn’t moved from that. Maybe it’s the Deion effect or people excited about Shedeur’s progress. He looked great last week, but Nebraska’s defense is a totally different animal. I liked the Cornhuskers in the summer — before we knew if Raiola was the real deal. Now that we’ve seen him live, that bet looks even better.
Sanders and the Colorado passing offense will hit a few big ones, but the offensive line is only marginally better than last season, and Hunter simply won’t be able to be everywhere all game (though he’ll try). Nebraska’s front will give the Colorado line fits and make it difficult for the Buffaloes to stay on schedule.
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On the other hand, the Colorado defense has not changed much; it is still the team’s biggest liability.
I lean towards the under because Nebraska can work the clock, and when Rhule is in control, he doesn’t usually aim for a shootout.
Prediction: Nebraska 35, Colorado 20
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