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The No. 19 Colorado Buffaloes (3-0) bring the hype train to Eugene to take on the No. 11 Oregon Ducks (3-0) Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Colorado vs. Oregon odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
Colorado comes into its Pac-12 opener after an 11-point comeback win Saturday, 43-35 in overtime against rival Colorado State in a game marred by personal fouls and cheap shots. CSU had 9 personal fouls and one that wasn’t called on a late hit to 2-way star Travis Hunter. That hit will cost him multiple weeks with a lacerated liver.
Shedeur Sanders led a 98-yard game scoring drive to end the 4th quarter. After throwing his 1st INT of the season, Sanders showed why he is a top contender for the Heisman Trophy with 1,251 yards and 10 TDs.
Oregon and QB Bo Nix have been running roughshod through an easy early-season schedule. After defeating Portland State 81-7 in Week 1, Oregon found a more difficult test on the road in Week 2 against Texas Tech. After getting out with a 38-30 win, the Ducks returned home and crushed Hawaii 55-10 Saturday.
With Bo Nix leading the way with 893 yards and 8 TD, Oregon has continued its fast-paced offense — an offense far quicker and more talented than anything Colorado has seen.
Oregon is No. 11 and Colorado No. 19 in the US LBM Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports
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Colorado at Oregon odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 2:39 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Colorado +680 (bet $100 to win $680) | Oregon -1100 (bet $1,100 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Colorado +21 (-110) | Oregon -21 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 70.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Colorado at Oregon picks and predictions
Prediction
Oregon 48, Colorado 24
PASS.
Do not make this wager. Even though Colorado has had a remarkable start to the season, it has not faced any team the caliber of Oregon.
Nix will light up a Colorado defense which has failed to get to the QB this season. And the offensive line of Oregon is one of the best in the nation and will not let it happen this week either.
While +680 is wonderful, it has no chance of hitting and the -1100 on Oregon is far too high to risk.
Against the spread
LEAN COLORADO +21 (-110).
While Colorado cannot match the talent of Oregon on either side of the ball, this line might just be a few points too high.
Coach Prime wants to get his son the Heisman. Or at least to be a finalist. To do so, especially with losses looming, he will need to pad the stats. This means that, even when the game is out of hand, Sanders will remain in the game and throw the ball.
By that point, Oregon will have its 2nd-string defense in, and the yards and some garbage points will come from it.
This game will never be in doubt for Oregon and the final score will be closer than the game feels. But Las Vegas does not care about garbage points. It only cares about the spread. And with this line being at -21 (110) it is just a few points above what you should feel comfortable lying with Oregon. The lean is for Colorado. But wagering instead on the Over/Under is a better wager.
Over/Under
OVER 70.5 (-105).
With Oregon having yet to score less than 38 points, it will be able to move up and down the field on a Colorado team which also wants to move quick.
Colorado currently ranks in the top 5 in the country in terms of plays per game. Oregon is one of the rare teams which can hang with this pace and not get tired.
With Hunter’s injury meaning the best defender for Colorado is out, Nix will use his arm to dink and dunk his way down the field. Oregon throws more passes within 3 yards of the line of scrimmage and a nation leading 67% of its receiving yards come after the catch, per CBS Sports. With Colorado being unable to tackle the Ducks receivers, Oregon will hit 40 and even 50 as it says goodbye to Colorado in the Pac-12.
Colorado for its part, will continue to try to score to keep Sanders in the Heisman race. Garbage points are points too and we do not discriminate. We will take all the points we can and 70.5 (-105) is not too high to want to make a play on.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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