Colorado-Nebraska Preview
Saturday, Sept. 7
7:30 p.m. Eastern, 4:30 p.m. Pacific
NBC, Peacock
The 2024 college football season gives us a rematch of Colorado versus Nebraska. It’s the back end of a home-and-home series which began last year in Boulder. Colorado hosted the Huskers on Fox Big Noon Saturday. Colorado was flying high after its win over TCU as a 20-point underdog the week before. The scene in Boulder was electric. The house was packed for this old-time Big 12 rivalry, and Deion Sanders was the toast of the town.
Colorado blew out Nebraska. The Huskers’ offense couldn’t do much of anything. Nebraska’s passing game was completely ineffective. Colorado didn’t have an elite defense last year, but against Nebraska, CU met an opponent which could not expose the Buffaloes’ weaknesses.
This year, Nebraska – with another year of recruiting and player development – appears to have a competent, reasonably effective offense. Quarterback Dylan Raiola, son of former Nebraska star Dominic Raiola, takes the reins in Lincoln as the leader of the Huskers’ offense. He is only a freshman, which does invite the possibility that he will make some basic mistakes in the early part of his first college season. However, he clearly has a lot of natural talent and a feel for the game, which could be all Nebraska needs to handle Colorado at home in a night game in Memorial Stadium. Most football analysts would agree that the matchup between the Nebraska offense and Colorado defense – which decided last year’s game in Boulder – will determine who wins (and covers) in this game in Lincoln.
Colorado Buffaloes-Nebraska Cornhuskers Odds
Spread: Colorado +7.5 (-115), Nebraska -7.5 (-105)
Total: 58.5 (Over -115, Under -105)
Underdog moneyline: Colorado +220
Will The Huskers Be Better This Year Against The Buffs?
The Nebraska offense in 2023 was a nightmare. Coach Matt Rhule ran up against the cold, hard fact that he did not have a quarterback who could guide his offense. Nebraska fell short of a bowl game as a result. Dylan Raiola has the skill set and the upside needed to make Nebraska a legitimately good offensive team. The Huskers might not have an elite offense, but if they can merely be good – moderately above average – their defense should be able to win a lot of games for them. It’s the inverse of a program such as USC, where it is generally expected that a Lincoln Riley offense will perform well, and the defense just has to reach a basic level of competence and functionality for the whole team to be successful.
Hear T.J. and Gary talk about this matchup on our “3 Dog Thursday Podcast” by clicking play below,
Nebraska’s offense might not destroy the Colorado defense, but it should be able to score its fair share of points. Colorado struggled at home against North Dakota State in Week 1. Nebraska is a much bigger, stronger team at the line of scrimmage than North Dakota State. Colorado’s line play was a weakness last season, and it doesn’t appear that Deion Sanders made substantial upgrades to his lines, either in terms of having frontline studs or needed depth pieces.
If you’re looking for an underdog angle here, Colorado in the first quarter – uncorking a big downfield pass to one of its premier receivers, who have the speed to make some plays against the Nebraska secondary – might be an interesting moneyline or spread play to make. However, if Colorado can’t hit the home-run pass consistently and get multiple touchdowns from splash plays, Nebraska is fully expected to dominate the tackle box and the action near the line of scrimmage. Over 60 minutes, the Huskers should wear down the Buffs. Colorado has to make this a finesse and speed game on the edges, outside the hashmarks, to have a real chance. If the game is decided in the tackle box with brawn and physical stamina, that will be an indicator that Nebraska is establishing its style of play.