Colorado Buffaloes Football Team Is Closer Than You Think

Colorado is back on the college football map with Deion Sanders. And it's more than hype in Boulder.

Colorado is ready for college football. After years of irrelevance, the Buffaloes are back on the map with Deion Sanders. And it’s more than hype in Boulder.

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Every Underdog Has Its Day

Colorado inside linebacker Marvin Ham II, left, runs into wide receiver Travis Hunter

The Buffaloes have talent on both sides of the ball. David Zalubowski / AP Photo

Colorado has a whole new look after going 1-11 in 2022, with dozens of players leaving the program and 51 incoming transfers.

They include Sanders’ son, Shedeur Sanders, a proven quarterback, and defensive back Travis Hunter, a five-star athlete who will be a dual threat on defense and offense at wide receiver.

Defensive powerhouses like Jordan Domineck from Arkansas and Florida State’s Derrick McLendon II also strengthen the Buffs.

“The goal is to win,” Sanders said on “Paper Route” show in April. “Everything. Every game. What else? You think I’m training, everybody’s training in the hot sun, cold air up there, high altitude — to lose? I don’t like those type of questions because who trains to lose? It boils down to ‘OK, I got great players, you got great players, who’s gonna execute the best?'”

Not Everyone Is Sold

Travis Hunter transferred from Jackson State and is working hard to learn Colorado’s offensive and defensive playbook. Hakim Wright Sr / AP Photo

The massive overhaul hasn’t won over sportsbooks. After winning one game in 2022, Colorado’s win total is listed at 3.5, with the over at +130 and under at -150.

Teams Make Dreams

Colorado defensive coordinator Charles Kelly at Florida State in 2014

New Colorado defensive coordinator Charles Kelly, left, won national championships leading defenses at Florida State in 2013 and Alabama in 2020. Mark Wallheiser / AP Photo

The Buffaloes are more than just Coach Prime. The Colorado football team has 49 coaches on its coaching staff, and they’re focused on building a top-notch program.

Sean Lewis is the new offensive coordinator after developing an explosive offense at Kent State as head coach.

Charles Kelly is the defensive coordinator with two national championships on his resume at Alabama and Florida State in a 33-year coaching career.

Colorado legend Darian Hagan is a link to CU’s past success, and they even have a character coach.

People’s Choice

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and fan Peggy Coppom

Excitement is brewing in Boulder. David Zalubowski / AP Photo

Most experts still expect Colorado to finish at the bottom of the Pac-12, but the public isn’t buying it.

In June, the Buffaloes, at 250/1, accounted for 8.5 percent of BetMGM’s tickets to win the college football playoff.

DraftKings have Colorado at +30000 to win the national title.

2024 National Championship Game Winner

Georgia +215
Alabama +600
Ohio State +650
Michigan +850
LSU +1100
USC +1600

College Football’s Most Interesting Team

Colorado quarterback Darian Hagan and Notre Dame cornerback Todd Lyght

Darian Hagan led Colorado to a national championship at quarterback in 1990. Now he is a football ambassador on the Buffaloes’ coaching staff as the executive director in charge of community engagement and outreach. Chris O’Meara / AP Photo

Colorado hasn’t won a bowl game since 2004 and has endured a losing season in 15 of the last 17 years. But Coach Prime and Colorado are already rankling opponents.

“Either he’s gonna be really good really fast and leave for another gig, which, looking at that roster doesn’t seem possible. … The alternative is that they’re gonna be bad, and they’ll end up firing him in a big circus,” an anonymous Pac-12 coach said.

CU Soon

Don’t underestimate Colorado. David Zalubowski / AP Photo

That’s why they play the games. Don’t be surprised if Colorado shakes things up on the field in the Pac-12 and across college football.

Despite a tough schedule, they can win more than four games and be better than expected.

Pac-12 Championship Game Winner

USC +210
Oregon +300
Washington +340
Utah +500
Oregon State +1200
UCLA +1400
Washington State +4000
California +6000
Arizona +8000
Arizona State +9000
Colorado +10000
Stanford +15000

Colorado Betting Insights

That was then. This is now. David Zalubowski / AP Photo

You might never see numbers like this again.

Colorado was massive underdogs (+13 or higher) in every game in 2022 and had a 2-10 record against the spread.
Nine Buffaloes games went over the point total.
Colorado ranked 127th in college football in total offense with 281.2 yards per game, 130th in total defense with 509.7 yards allowed, and 131st with 44.5 points allowed.
The Buffaloes were 1-5 at home and 0-6 away.
Colorado had one victory (1-11), against California, when they were +15 underdogs.

Source: Odds Shark

All odds are subject to change.