A successful Hail Mary drastically changed the course of Colorado’s season, but it remains to be seen whether surviving Baylor a few weeks ago has serious staying power. We’ll have a much better idea following Saturday’s clash with Kansas State, who was expected to reach the Big 12 Championship game, has already dropped its conference road opener and arrives in Boulder coming off a bye while packing little room for error.
Colorado hosts K-State (10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN) for the first time since 2010 and hoping one of its two Heisman Trophy candidates, Shedeur Sanders or two-way star Travis Hunter, can impact this game enough to overcome a depth disadvantage. The Buffs are looking for their first four-game win streak since the start of the 2020 season, have won four of the last five against the Wildcats and are 45-20-1 all-time against them despite well over a decade passing since the teams last played.
Colorado vs. Kansas State odds: Spread, moneyline, total for Week 7 college football matchup
Kansas State opened as a 4.5-point favorite but the line moved in Colorado’s direction in early betting. The total opened 56.5 and was bet down early.
Here are live Week 7 college football betting odds for Wildcats vs. Buffaloes at top-rated online sportsbooks.
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Buffs off bye, Wildcats back on track
Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes (4-1 SU, 3-2 ATS) followed up their dramatic overtime win over the Bears on Homecoming with an impressive 48-21 blowout at UCF as a double-digit underdog, so they’ll come into this huge showdown on a three-game winning streak in addition to having last week off to prepare.
The Wildcats (4-1 SU, 2-3 ATS) recovered from their brutal 38-9 loss at BYU by dominating Oklahoma State 42-20 behind their most prolific scoring game of the season.
QB Avery Johnson, a dynamic athlete with great speed who has been an inconsistent passer, threw for three TDs and 259 yards against the Cowboys while running for two scores in the most impressive performance of his sophomore season. Johnson, one of three Power-4 quarterbacks with over 800 passing yards and 300 rushing yards, is tasked with shredding a Colorado defense that looks better than it did a year ago with new coordinator Robert Livingston calling the shots.
Buffs star QB Shedeur Sanders tossed three TD passes in Orlando but was intercepted for the first time since the Sept. 7 loss at Nebraska. Avoiding turnovers will play a large role in helping produce an upset. Sanders has thrown for over 40 touchdowns against just six interceptions over the last year-plus.
Colorado betting news and analysis
Hunter, who has been on the field for 93 percent of the Buffs’ plays this season on both sides of the ball, leads Colorado in receptions (46), receiving yards (561) and TDs (6), and has a pair of interceptions. He’s got an opportunity to ascend to the role of Heisman Trophy favorite, coming in at +300 at DraftKings behind only Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty (+225). K-State top WR Jayce Brown will likely have to deal with Hunter shadowing him throughout much of this contest.
Kansas State betting news and analysis
K-State RB D.J. Giddens is a powerful runner who has scored only a pair rushing of TDs but has gained 604 yards and keys a rushing attack that ranks second behind only Boise State (8.18) by averaging 6.93 yards per carry. In addition to Johnson and Giddens, the Wildcats also lean on former Buffs standout Dylan Edwards in the backfield. He’s racked up over 200 rushing yards and made a catch in each game after gaining 735 all-purpose yards last season at CU. He’ll be a factor in all three phases for the Wildcats.
Kansas State vs. Colorado prop bets
Here is a sampling of Kansas State vs. Colorado prop bets from DraftKings.
- Colorado team total: Over 26.5 -115, Under 26.5 -120
- Kansas State team total: Over 30.5 -115, Under 30.5 -120
- Race to 15 points: Kansas State -165, Colorado +110, Neither +2000
- Total TDs: Over 7 -105, Under 7 -125
- Kansas State’s DJ Giddens TD: Anytime -245, First +425
- Colorado’s Travis Hunter TD: Anytime -175, First +300
- 1H spread: Kansas State -1.5 (-112), Colorado +1.5 (+108), O/U: 28.5
Kansas State vs. Colorado prediction: Wildcats grind out win to ground Buffs
Offensive line issues and poor defense were the main reasons Colorado struggled to a 4-8 mark in Sanders’ first season. Although both units look improved, Sanders has still been sacked 17 times, and the Buffs still give up chunk plays, although they’ve buckled down in the red zone. So long as K-State has the stamina to hold up for four quarters in Boulder’s altitude, it should avoid an upset and cover this number.
