The Rocky Mountain Showdown has been extremely competitive over the last two decades. Although the Colorado Buffaloes lead the series all-time with a record of 64-22-2, the Colorado State Rams have won seven of the last 18 meetings. For the first time in sometime, these two teams both have high preseason expectations after successful 2016 campaigns and winning this one will help further elevate their goals for the season.
Kickoff for this college football Week 1 game is set for Friday, September 1, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET at Sports Authority Field in Denver, Colorado. The game will be broadcast on PAC-12 Network.
College Football Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Colorado State +5
Colorado -5
Over/Under 65.5
Odds Analysis
Colorado State is one of the few teams that has already played a game this season. The Rams used a dominant second half performance to blow out Oregon State 58-27 in an impressive season opener. Nick Stevens was the real deal, throwing for 334 yards and three touchdowns, and the running game was able to grind out 191 yards on 43 carries. It was an easy cover for Colorado State.
The Buffaloes had easily their best season yet since joining the Pac-12. They matched their win total from the first three seasons under Mike MacIntyre last year and ended up playing for the Pac-12 championship. Although the season didn’t end well with blowout losses to Washington and Oklahoma State, Colorado was able to finally reclaim some of the program’s luster.
Matchup to Watch
Colorado had one of the best defenses in the country last year as the Buffs held opposing quarterbacks to a sub-50 percent completion percentage and gave up just 4.1 yards per carry.
However, almost all of the starters from that unit is gone. While the safeties return, only one other starter returns from that unit, middle linebacker Rick Gamboa. MacIntyre went the JUCO route to fill some of those holes, but this defense is also being built from the ground up by a new defensive coordinator. Jim Leavitt went to Oregon to take the same role and MacIntyre brought in DJ Eliot from Kentucky to run the defense this year.
This team is going to find it a lot harder to stop the Rams offense than it did last year. Colorado State threw for just 63 yards through the air against the Buffs defense last season, but the offense is humming under Mike Bobo now. Michael Gallup is one of the better receivers in the country and is looking to continue to build on a great start to his season.
Player to Watch
Steven Montez looks the part, but can he actually get the job done? Montez was solid when he filled in for Sefo Liufau last season and now has the team all to himself. He is the leader of an offense with nine returning starters and playmakers all over the field.
At 6’5, he has the size to see over defensive lines and make the right read. He is also surprisingly mobile for his height, averaging 4.4 yards per carry in 2016.
Montez made a name for himself in Colorado’s stunning upset of Oregon last year, becoming the first quarterback to throw for 300 yards and run for 100 yards in a single game in CU history. Not even Kordell ‘Slash’ Stewart did that during his time in Boulder.
Free ATS Pick
This could be a shootout. Both of these offenses have the weapons to put up points and both defenses have some big holes. Colorado State has already proven it can score on a Pac-12 defense after its performance against Oregon State and Colorado should be able to move the ball well too.
Don’t think twice. This total is a bit too low. Grab the over and expect fireworks.
College Football Odds: Buffaloes 41, Rams 37
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