Big Red is still waiting to see Scott Frost’s new offense in action. A severe thunderstorm with 70 MPH winds and copious amounts of lightning caused the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ first game of the season against the Akron Zips to be cancelled last Saturday. Time will tell whether or not that was an ominous indicator of things to come.
That means they will have their first real test of the season against the Colorado Buffaloes in Week 2 without any chance to iron out the kinks. That could be bad for the Huskers, but it also means that Colorado has no tape on this offense yet, and they will see it for the first time just like everybody else this Saturday.
Watch this Week 2 matchup live on Saturday, September 8, 2018, at 3:30 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Colorado +4.5
Nebraska -4.5
Over/Under 65
Odds Analysis
The total has shot through the roof in this one. Initially, the over/under in this game was 59.5 per the CFB betting odds. However, a bevy of action on the over has moved the line to where it now rests at 65.
As for the side, there has been a little bit of coin spread on the Huskers here. Nebraska has moved from -4 to -4.5 per the CFB betting line, and that number may rise prior to kickoff.
Coaching Angle
Nebraska fans are bursting with anticipation at the thought of seeing their former star player turned potential savior on the sidelines. Rarely has the college football world seen a fanbase more excited about a new coaching hire.
Frost is back in Lincoln to modernize an offense that has been moribund for some time now. He won a share of the national championship as the head coach of the University of Central Florida with the offense leading the way last season, but it may take some time for this offense to get going.
This offense will be much different than what we saw under Mike Riley, and as such Frost has turned to a true freshman to be the pivot man. Adrian Martinez came here as a highly touted dual-threat quarterback, and he will lead this offense against the Buffaloes.
Player to Watch
It will be the Steven Montez show for the Colorado Buffaloes, because quite frankly, there really isn’t anyone else left from the last two seasons. Montez is one of just four starters returning on offense this year, as Colorado will be replacing leading rusher Phillip Lindsay and their top three receivers from 2017.
Montez and the Buffaloes cruised to a 45-13 win over the Colorado State Rams in the Rocky Mountain Showdown in their opener. Montez was almost perfect in the game, going 22-25 for 338 yards with four touchdowns and an interception in the game. Additionally, he showcased his wheels with a 38-yard touchdown run to open the scoring, and his play helped make this one a laugher by the end of the third quarter.
This is Montez’s third season as a starter in Boulder, and he looked solid, but not spectacular, in his first two seasons. He will need to turn the corner in his third year for Colorado to return to a bowl though, with the team not having so many guys from the last couple years.
Free ATS Pick
These two teams used to be conference rivals when they both played in the Big 12. However, they have not played since Colorado left for the Pac 12 and Nebraska bolted for the Big Ten. Their last meeting was back in 2010, and both sides are happy to renew this border war.
Without seeing Nebraska’s offense in action, it’s hard to feel particularly confident about this game. However, I have a lot of faith in Frost, and with Colorado’s offense needing some time to find new weapons, I’ll lay the points with the Huskers.
College Football Odds: Nebraska 34, Colorado 24
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