The Colorado Buffaloes enter the season with reasonable hype surrounding the team. They made a splash in the offseason when they hired a man so entertaining his nickname is “Prime Time.” 

Deion Sanders will be the man in charge of turning around this program as he enters year one. Sanders enjoyed loads of success during his time at Jackson State University and made headlines a season ago when he signed Travis Hunter, the top defensive player in the 2021 class. Hunter transferred over to Colorado with Coach Prime and will get his first taste of power conference football this season. They’ll also have some help on offense.

Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s son, also transferred to Colorado in the offseason and will look to continue the success that he enjoyed at Jackson State. Sanders is seen as one of the best mobile quarterbacks in college football. And his presence, along with his dad’s, is sparking new interest in the program.

Colorado saw 47 players enter the transfer portal since Sanders took over in the Spring. In today's game, it is not uncommon for players to hit the portal when a new coach comes in, but47 players is a noteworthy number, making their 2023 season worth targeting from a betting standpoint.

Colorado Futures Bets to Watch

Sanders has publicly stated that the Colorado culture will change, which means changing the makeup of their roster. However, despite the exciting moves in the offseason, Buffalo's over/under on wins this year is 3.5. From a betting standpoint, they are slated to finish toward the bottom of the Pac-12. 

Deion Sanders

Jackson State Tigers head coach Deion Sanders and his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2), walk off the field together as Alabama State Hornets takes on Jackson State Tigers at ASU Stadium in Montgomery, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. Jackson State Tigers defeated Alabama State Hornets 26-12.

Meanwhile, TCU enters the 2023 campaign on the heels of a legendary run in 2022.  However, the makeup of their roster will look a bit different as some key players graduated or left for the NFL draft. 

Max Duggan is one of those key players who will not return to TCU this year. Duggan was a Heisman finalist in 2022 and was drafted 239th overall by the Los Angeles Chargers this season. Quentin Johnston was the Horned Frog's top offensive threat a season ago and earned himself an opportunity to be selected in the first round by the Chargers. Regardless, I still think there’s some juice left in this squad.

TCU Futures Bets to Watch

Chandler Morris is the front-runner at the moment to be TCU’s opening-week starter. The red-shirt junior was the week-one starter a season ago but was benched in favor of Duggan a few weeks into the season. 

Despite the great run a season ago, DraftKings Sportsbook has the Horned Frogs slated to finish fifth in the Big 12. If you believe in this team, you can currently find their odds at +1600 to win the conference. 

Pick: Colorado +20 (-110, DraftKings)

I can not pass up on this large of a number in Week 1. 

TCU is a different team than the one we saw a season ago. While they will return multiple players from the squad that won the Fiesta Bowl, the team's engine is gone. 

I believe TCU does not have enough offensive firepower to come out in week one and cover a number of this magnitude. Colorado, meanwhile, will play this game with tons of emotion and effort as they aim to gain national respect. 

Chandler Morris

Apr 14, 2023; Fort Worth, TX, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Chandler Morris (4) in action during the TCU Spring Game at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports

It has been a rough run in Boulder, but this season they finally feel something: Deion Sanders's presence. It will take some time for the Buffaloes to be a team that can win the Pac-12, but this team will be a great underdog to bet on throughout the year. 

Shedeur Sanders has power conference talent, and if it was not for his dad coaching at Jackson State, he would have been in a power conference straight out of high school. 

As I mentioned earlier, Buffalo has one of the most unique talents in Travis Hunter. This kid is so good that he is listed as the Buffaloes' number-one wide receiver and cornerback on the depth chart. 

I am high on the defense of the Buffaloes this year, and I believe that in Week !, they can limit TCU’s offense. Colorado will only return one starter from a season ago in safety Trevor Woods. Outside of Woods, it is expected that the Buffaloes will start eleven transfers on defense, including Coach Prime's son Shilo Sanders. 

Let's cash in with the Buffaloes in week one!

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Colorado TCU Week 1