The Colorado Buffaloes will return to Folsom Field as they look to bounce back from their loss against Arizona State and pull off an upset over the No. 17 Houston Cougars. With Houston being an incredibly consistent team throughout this season, they present a different challenge for Colorado who have much to prove in front of their home crowd.
As underdogs at home again, can Colorado pull off a surprise and pick up a ranked win?
Houston Opens as a Double-Digit Favorite
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Houston enters the contest as a 10.5-point road favorite (-110) with Colorado being listed at +10.5 (-110). The moneyline also heavily favors the Cougars, who are priced at -385 to win outright. Colorado offers a much larger potential payout at +310, reflecting the challenge that the Buffaloes face against a Houston team that has displayed more consistency throughout the entirety of this season.
Houston enters the matchup with a 7-2 record while Colorado comes in at 3-6. The Cougars are coming off of a 31-24 win over Cincinnati while the Buffaloes recently suffered a 20-10 loss to Arizona State. Houston has won four of its last five games as Colorado has failed to achieve a victory in four of their last five matchups.
The difference in offensive production helps explain why the Cougars are favored by more than just a touchdown. Houston is averaging 35.4 points per game and Colorado averages 19.8. The Cougars have also been more effective running the football averaging 207.4 rushing yards per game. On the other side, Colorado is averaging just 128.6 yards on the ground.
The Buffaloes will need to find ways to keep Houston’s offense from controlling the tempo. If the Cougars establish their run game early on and consistently move the chains Colorado could have some difficulty keeping the game close and competitive. Playing at Folsom Field however, gives the Buffaloes an opportunity to take advantage of their home environment.
Moneyline and Over/Under
The moneyline illustrates the challenge facing Colorado. Houston is listed at -385 and Colorado’s +310 moneyline offers a much larger potential return…