2024 NCAAF Cheat Sheet: Colorado Stats & Odds
Big Offensive Numbers Expected From 2024 Colorado Buffaloes Stats
- Transfer Strategy and Defensive Upgrades: Coach Sanders added 42 new transfers, focusing on defensive linemen.
- Mixed Performance and Betting Insights: Successful against the spread (7-4-1) and resilient after losses (5-1-1 ATS).
- Big 12 Transition and Championship Odds: Moving to the Big 12, needing defensive improvements, with long championship odds.
More Transfers Arrive to Turn Things Around at Colorado
Colorado’s final season in the Pac-12 featured plenty of sound bites from head coach Deion Sanders but just one conference win and four wins overall. Colorado did win three of its four games when listed as the favorite but finished 1-7 outright as the underdog.
Colorado was much more successful against the spread with a 7-4-1 record (6-2 as the underdog). The Buffaloes were 5-1-1 ATS after a loss so keep that in mind when it comes to the 2024 Colorado Buffaloes stats.
It doesn’t get much more mediocre than having six games finishing over and six games going under and that was the case with the 2023 Colorado Buffaloes. Four of the six home games went over the college football betting odds and lines total as Colorado surrendered at least 34 points in four home matchups.
At A Glance
| Odds to Win | Opening Odds | Current Odds |
| Championship | +25000 | +12500 |
| Conference | +4000 | +3000 |
| Regular Season Win Total | 4.5 (o -146, u- +120) | 5.5 (o -130, u- Even) |
| To Make Playoffs | Yes N/A, No N/A | Yes N/A, No N/A |
Coach Prime is Still Playing the Transfer Game
Deion Sanders or Coach Prime, if that is what you prefer, certainly knows his way around the transfer portal.
After bringing in 52 transfers a season ago and being listed by the 247sports.com database as having the top class of incoming transfers, Colorado added 42 more transfers this season. That is one of the 2024 Colorado Buffaloes stats that those outside the program might be focusing on.
Obviously, some of the players who transferred in a season ago have already left as have some prized recruits.
Three of the top four incoming are defensive linemen with Pitt’s Samuel Okunlola, LSU‘s Quency Wiggins, and Arizona State‘s BJ Green looking to upgrade one of the Buffaloes’ weakest positions. The influx of talent through the transfer portal wasn’t enough to get Colorado into a bowl game. Will things be different in Year 2?
Championship Odds: Buying A Ticket Might Be the Best Option
If Sanders wants to be at the College Football Playoff title game, he might want to purchase a ticket.
Colorado moves to the Big 12 and with Oklahoma and Texas moving from the Big 12 to the SEC, the Big 12 looks to be the weakest of the power conferences.
The champion should earn a spot in the CFP but it is hard to see it being Colorado being a factor nationally unless the Buffaloes make giant strides on defense after finishing 130th out of 133 teams in total defense and 124th in scoring defense. Colorado allowed 58 plays from scrimmage of at least 20 yards and 22 of at least 30 yards so there is plenty of work to do unless the Buffaloes plan on winning games 42-41.
Hopefully, the 2024 Colorado Buffaloes stats on defense won’t be quite as ugly as the 2023 numbers.
Colorado does get to face a perennial playoff team – at the Football Championship Subdivision level – when the Buffaloes play host to North Dakota State in the season opener. Colorado is listed by the college football lines as the 8½-point line.
Making it into a bowl game would be a sign of progress.
Conference Odds: You’re Saying There’s a Chance
When looking at the 2024 Colorado Buffaloes stats, it is fitting that Colorado will be squaring off with teams that the Buffaloes haven’t played in a while since the roster continues to be in a state of flux.
Colorado did win four Big 12 North Division titles in a span of five years when Gary Barnett was at the helm of the Buffaloes. After Barnett left, Colorado finished 12-28 in Big 12 games before leaving for the Pac-12.
The Buffaloes are back in the Big 12 but just tied for ninth in the odds of winning the Big 12.
Colorado’s Big 12 opener comes against Baylor, a team with longer Big 12 odds so perhaps there is a chance to get off on the right foot in the return to the Big 12.
A three-game stretch against UCF, Kansas State, and Arizona could make or break Colorado’s season. November games against Big 12 favorites Utah and Kansas will also be rather challenging.
Regular Season Wins: Plenty of Risk for Colorado to Go Over 5.5 Wins
With a non-conference showdown with Nebraska far from a sure thing, Colorado may head into Big 12 play with just two wins. Can the Buffaloes find a way to get four wins in the Big 12?
It could happen but it won’t be easy. If the NCAAF regular season wins line was still at 4.5, it might be a better option. However, with so much early money coming in on Colorado to post at least five wins during the regular season, the RSW number moved from 4.5 to 5.5.
To Make Playoffs: Is Deion Suiting Up?
Even with the College Football Playoff expanding from four to 12 teams, there is so much work to do for Colorado to be relevant on the national scene.
It is hard to build chemistry with players constantly coming and going. Colorado has been a more talented team since Sanders took over but this isn’t fantasy football, on the field camaraderie still matters.
Side Bets
Colorado has won seven of its last eight season openers so take a look at Colorado at -8.5 to beat North Dakota State on Aug. 29. The college football spreads set the total at 59 for that matchup.
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders seems a little undervalued at +3000 in the odds of winning the Heisman Trophy. He did throw for 3230 yards while completing 69% of his passes with 27 touchdowns and just three interceptions in 11 games a season ago.
Travis Hunter, who played on both sides of the ball a season ago, has +5000 odds of winning the Heisman Trophy. He will continue to be a popular target in college football prop bets even if he would benefit from a smaller snap count.
- Sanders is tied for the second shortest odds at +500 to be the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft with Hunter at +3000 to be the top NFL Draft selection.
For NCAAF betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
