Via Chandler Vessels
Colorado has been one of the most surprising teams early in the 2023 college football season and hosts in-state rival Colorado State in Week 3. After going just 1-11 last season, the Buffaloes have already surpassed that win total with a pair of victories against TCU and Nebraska to open this year.
Oddsmakers in Vegas like them to keep up their impressive play against the Rams, as Colorado opens as a 20.5-point favorite according to FanDuel. The over/under for the contest is set at 57.5.
Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders had a record-breaking debut in Week 1 against the Horned Frogs to throw for a school record 510 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-42 win. It was much of the same story in Week 2 against the Cornhuskers.
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Sanders, the son of first-year CU coach Deion Sanders, followed up his opening week performance to throw for another 393 yards and two touchdowns as Colorado won 36-14. Xavier Weaver finished as his top receiver with 10 catches for 170 yards and a touchdown.
If there’s one area of concern for the Buffaloes offense, it’s the run game. Colorado has failed to rush for more than 60 yards in either of its first two games despite the big numbers it’s put up through the air. Alton McCaskill could provide that spark once he returns from injury, but he’s missed the first two games of the season.
As for Colorado State, it is coming off of a 3-9 season in 2022 and don’t appear to have improved much based on a small sample to start off this year. The Rams opened with a 50-24 loss to Washington State and then had an early bye in Week 2.
CSU quarterback Clay Millen struggled in Week 1 to finish 15-of-24 passing for 110 yards and an interception. The Rams also struggled on the ground with just 37 yards rushing on 20 carries. The 24 points they scored is somewhat misleading, as their only three touchdowns of the game all came in garbage time during the fourth quarter.
Not many were sure what to expect from the Buffaloes after they brought in 71 new players this offseason. However, they’ve quickly turned into one of the best stories so far and stand a good chance to start out 3-0 as Colorado State is the weakest opponent they’ve faced thus far.
Kickoff for the contest is set for 8 p.m. MT in Boulder.
