Colorado vs. Nebraska College Football Week 2 Odds Preview and Pick

The honeymoon is over for Deion Sanders. Year Two for “Prime Time” as the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes (4-8 SU, 7-4-1 ATS in 2023) is already off to a shaky start, as evidenced by their 31-26 Week 1 victory over North Dakota State (+11.5 away) from the FCS. “You ever felt like you won, but you didn’t win?” Sanders asked reporters afterward.

Sanders might be in a no-win situation. He’s trying to build the Buffaloes program through the transfer window, but the main draw luring talent to Boulder isn’t the team – it’s Sanders himself. Otherwise, this is just another Big 12 school, trying not to get their lunch stolen by the Power 2 conferences.

That’s right: the Power 2. College football betting as we know it today is ruled by the SEC and the Big Ten, and the SEC is easily the lead dog on this sled. The Big 12 and the ACC get the view from the back.

This is why we’re content to recommend the Nebraska Cornhuskers for your NCAAF picks as 7-point home faves at Bovada. Saturday’s tilt in Lincoln could be a mismatch; while Sanders scrambles to add quality players, all Matt Rhule has to do is point at that big red “N” like he’s on Carnival Eats, and wait for the talent to come pouring in. The difference between the two programs should become self-evident this weekend.

Can Deion Sanders Coach?

Yes, insofar as coaching is a complex, earthy blend of recruiting, evangelizing, and strategizing. There’s no doubt Sanders is skilled at those first two elements. The Xs and Os part? I’ll go with “Incomplete” for a grade.

There’s a fourth element when it comes to the Buffaloes: parenting. Sanders is the father of both starting quarterback Shedeur Sanders, a plausible Heisman Trophy candidate at +1800 on Bovada’s NCAAF futures market, and starting cornerback Shilo Sanders. These are two of Colorado’s three best players, two-way CB/WR stud Travis Hunter (also +1800 for the Heisman) being the third.

Supporting these three blue-chippers is the challenge in Boulder. The offensive line is especially important here; Shedeur Sanders was sacked 52 times last year playing in the Pac-12, and while North Dakota State only got to him once last Thursday, Buffs fans have to be worried after losing center Van Wells (Oregon State) and others to the transfer portal.

Can Matt Rhule Coach?

Funny how people don’t have as many questions about Rhule’s bona fides as a coach, even after he flamed out with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. I wonder why that could be.

College football is another animal, though. At this level, Rhule is a viking; he was the 2019 Big 12 Coach of the Year at Baylor before jumping to the NFL, and Rhule’s Cornhuskers are pointed in the right direction after going 5-7 (4-7-1 ATS) in their first campaign on his watch.

Playing in the Big Ten helps. Rhule has a stud QB prospect of his own in Dylan Raiola (+8000 for the Heisman), whose impressive skills were on display in last Saturday’s 40-7 college debut over the UTEP Miners (+27.5 away). Raiola’s touchdown throws to WR Isaiah Neyor, who transferred from Texas, and WR Jahmal Banks, formerly of Wake Forest, were things of beauty.

The Pick

Raiola has center Ben Scott in front of him as part of a reasonably stout offensive line, so once you combine this upgraded offense with the already-imposing ‘Huskers defense, there isn’t much left on Rhule’s shopping list for 2024. Bet accordingly, and may the prolate spheroid be with you.

NCAAF Pick: Nebraska -7 (-115) at Bovada

Nebraska -7 (-115)

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