Long-standing rivals Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-0) and Deion Sanders led Colorado Buffaloes (1-0) are set to face off this Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Nebraska, under coach Matt Rhule, kicked off the season with a dominant 40-7 win over UTEP, led by standout freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola. Meanwhile, the Buffaloes, led by Coach Deion Sanders in his second season, secured a gritty 31-26 victory against North Dakota State. Colorado’s quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter had standout performances, both emerging as early Heisman contenders. Historically, Nebraska leads the series 49-21-2, but Colorado has claimed the last three encounters, including a decisive 36-14 victory in 2023.
The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. According to SportsLine consensus, Nebraska is favored by 6.5 points, with the over/under set at 55.5 points.
Here’s a breakdown of the odds and key insights for the matchup:
Nebraska vs. Colorado spread: Nebraska -6.5
Nebraska vs. Colorado over/under: 55.5 points
Nebraska vs. Colorado money line: Nebraska -243, Colorado +196
Why Colorado could cover the spread
While Dylan Raiola is highly regarded and may become the cornerstone of Nebraska’s future success, Colorado currently has the more seasoned quarterback in Shedeur Sanders. The senior quarterback threw for an impressive 445 yards and four touchdowns in their opener. Sanders was also at the helm when Colorado dismantled Nebraska 36-14 in their 2023 meeting.
Colorado’s receiving corps, led by Travis Hunter, is poised to challenge Nebraska’s secondary. Hunter, who plays both offense and defense, delivered a stellar Heisman-caliber performance against North Dakota State, racking up 132 receiving yards on seven catches and scoring three touchdowns. Other key players like Jimmy Horn Jr. and LaJohntay Wester add depth to Colorado’s offensive threat, with Horn notching 198 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 1.
Why Nebraska could cover the spread
Nebraska holds a potential advantage in the trenches, both on the offensive and defensive lines. Despite Colorado’s offseason efforts to rebuild their line, they struggled in their opener, managing only 59 rushing yards against North Dakota State. Nebraska’s defense could exploit these vulnerabilities, potentially forcing Colorado to rely heavily on their passing game.
Dylan Raiola, the highest-rated quarterback Nebraska has seen in over a decade, showed poise in his debut, completing 70.4% of his passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns. With North Dakota State’s quarterback Cam Miller finding success against Colorado’s defense, Raiola could similarly capitalize on defensive weaknesses.
