Colorado vs. Nebraska Expert Pick and Prediction – September 7, 2024

COLORADO VS. NEBRASKA EXPERT PICK AND PREDICTION – September 7, 2024 — Last year, this was the game that showed the nation that Colorado wasn’t built to last. That’s an odd thing to say at first glance, considering that the Buffaloes won 36-14, but Nebraska exposed Colorado’s offensive line in the process.

The Cornhuskers nailed Shedeur Sanders for seven sacks, and if Nebraska had anything resembling a college quarterback, it would have won the game. And now the Huskers believe they have that quarterback in Dylan Raiola, and they believe they’re ready to try to stop a three-game losing streak to Colorado.

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Year 2 in Boulder for Deion Sanders still appears to be, to steal a line from Oregon coach Dan Lanning, rooted in flash more than substance. The Buffaloes have incredible talent in Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, but this is still a team that isn’t built to win in the trenches. Colorado’s ground game went nowhere against North Dakota State, and the Buffaloes easily could have lost that game if not for Sanders’ brilliance.

And that same Nebraska front seven that shoved the Buffaloes around last year is mostly back and a year better. This Husker team is equipped to win in the trenches and isn’t likely to shoot itself in the foot. This year, there’s a good chance that’s good enough for Nebraska to win.

The Odds

Kickoff

When: Saturday, September 7 at 7:30 p.m. EST

Where: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Neb.

TV: NBC

Public Bets: Unavailable

Public Money: Unavailable

Odds courtesy of DraftKings, as of September 6th, 2024.

Colorado vs. Nebraska In-Season Trends

Betting Nebraska was about as annoying as it got last season down the stretch. The Cornhuskers just couldn’t generate anything offensively because of terrible quarterback play. If you bet Nebraska unders, you were sitting pretty because only Purdue allowed more than 20 points to the Huskers in Big Ten play. But Nebraska failed to cover in four straight to end the season, a streak the Huskers finally snapped against UTEP.

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Colorado went the other way. The Buffaloes might have gone 1-8 in the Pac-12, but they covered most of the time. Once the books turned on Colorado, they turned hard, as the Buffs went 5-3-1 ATS. They’ve also gone 3-0 ATS and SU against Nebraska in this restarted rivalry.

Weather

We might actually get some chills in the air in Lincoln. Temperatures will fall to the 50s during the contest, on a clear and otherwise comfortable night in Nebraska.

The Difference-Makers

Colorado isn’t going to bother running the football. It’s going to be all about Shedeur Sanders and whether he can stay upright against Nebraska’s pass rush. If the Huskers give him time to throw, they’re toast. If Sanders gets acquainted with the Memorial Stadium grass early and often, advantage Nebraska.

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Dylan Raiola gives Nebraska the edge and identity that did not exist last year. Last season, Jeff Sims fumbled two snaps and Nebraska turned the ball over four times. The Huskers never did get the passing attack or the turnovers under control, averaging 136 yards through the air and finishing -17 for the season in turnovers. Raiola is a much better option at quarterback, and Nebraska still has Gabe Ervin to chew up yardage on the ground. This offense should be much more successful.

The Pick

This Nebraska team is much better than last year’s version. It’s only been one game, but these Huskers don’t appear to beat themselves. Nebraska had a fantastic defense last year that only allowed 18 points per game, and it would have been better if the offense hadn’t repeatedly forced it into terrible situations.

However, it’s tough to trust the Huskers to cover this spread. Colorado was betting gold once it started losing, and it appears the books might have overcompensated once again. Nebraska is the better team and should win the game, but the number has gone the wrong way to get value on the hosts.