Colorado State vs. Colorado Prediction: Coach Prime’s Buffaloes Head to Fort Collins for Heated Rivalry With Rams

Colorado and Colorado State played one of the most heated rivalry games of the 2023 season. After 1-1 starts that have exposed real issues, this nonconference game has taken on even more importance as the teams enter league play, not that either of these teams needs extra motivation after last year’s chippy overtime contest .

The Buffaloes opened with a tough home win over FCS power North Dakota State, but fell on the road to rival Nebraska, 28-10 . Colorado’s over-reliance on Shedeur Sanders’ arm and continued struggles up front were already evident after the win over the Bison. The Huskers — a team that lost handily to Colorado a year ago — took full advantage, and helped create a pretty clear blueprint for how to beat Deion Sanders’ team. Colorado State’s season got off to a brutal start with a 52-0 loss at Texas, but rebounded last Saturday to beat FCS team Northern Colorado 38-17.

Colorado leads the all-time series 68-22-2 and has won every edition of the Rocky Mountain Showdown since 2014. The series is set to go on pause until 2029-30 after this year’s game.

Colorado State vs. Colorado

Location: Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colo.
Kickoff: Saturday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Spread: Colorado -7
Over/Under: 57.5
Announcers: Rich Waltz, Ross Tucker and Tiffany Blackmon

Why Colorado State Will Win

The book is out on Colorado. Shedeur Sanders is an impressive quarterback and the Buffaloes have a strong receiving corps, led by Travis Hunter, but the offensive line is porous, the running game is nonexistent, and the defense isn’t particularly great against the pass or the run. The Buffaloes have also struggled on the road under Sanders. CSU has some talent, with quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and wide receiver Tory Horton putting up big numbers in this game a year ago. Running back Justin Marshall has also added a solid rushing dynamic to the offense this year, after the team struggled to move the ball on the ground a year ago.

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Why Colorado Will Win

Even with all of those issues outlined about the Buffaloes, they have a sizable talent edge in this game, and will be extremely motivated to beat the Rams. Sanders and Hunter combine for one of the great QB-WR duos in the country, and Hunter will likely blanket Horton on the other side of the ball. Colorado struggles to block up front, but Colorado State hasn’t gotten after the quarterback, with just one sack in two games. If the Buffaloes line is ever going to have a get-right game, this is the opportunity.

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Final Analysis

Time will tell whether Coach Prime will have his team ready to compete in a deep Big 12. He’ll need little help to get his Buffs fired up for Saturday’s game with the Rams, with all of the trash talk exchanged by these two teams over the last year. Colorado will be out to make a statement in this one.

Prediction: Colorado 42, Colorado State 27

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