Colorado vs Arizona Odds, Picks, Predictions (10/1/22)

Colorado is visiting Tucson to play Arizona after getting blown out at home against UCLA. Arizona also lost their last game against Cal, where they just couldn’t keep up in the second half. This game was not close last year too. This should be an interesting matchup. let’s take a look at the odds, and make some picks and predictions for this game!

Colorado vs. Arizona Odds

Arizona is a 17.5-point favorite against Colorado, and is also at -900 on the money line. The over/under is set at 57 too. This says a lot about how much Arizona has improved and also a lot about how much Colorado has struggled up to this point in the season. Arizona’s offense has improved a lot and this spread reflects that. The over/under being set at 57 also reflects that. Keep an eye on this spread because there’s a chance it could dip a little, but if it stays here it’s very telling what oddsmakers think of Colorado.

Colorado vs. Arizona Prediction & Pick

The pick: Arizona -17.5

I love Arizona in this spot. Colorado might be the worst Power Five team in the whole country this year. Arizona, on the other hand, is very improved from last year, especially on offense. Arizona lost to Cal last week because their defense let them down in the second half, but they led at the half and proved they have the talent now to compete on a Pac-12 level, after last year they couldn’t say that. Jayden de Laura leads the way for the offense at quarterback, while having great targets to throw to like Jacob Cowing or Tetairoa McMillan. The running backs and tight ends were also stocked up this past offseason as well and its paying dividends so far.

Colorado has been a mess up to this point and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better this year. They recently changed quarterbacks to go with freshman, Owen McCown, who has helped the offense look better, but that’s not saying much. The offense has only scored an average of 12 points a game up to this point, and has also only averaged 261 total yards so far. The offense is in bad shape, but the defense might be in worse shape. They have given up an average of 43 points and 468 total yards on defense too.

Arizona is just in better shape as a program right now than Colorado. In this game, Arizona is the much better team, so take them and the points in this spot. This should be one of the few games Arizona wins this year.

Colorado vs. Arizona Key Matchups

Can the Colorado passing defense do anything to stop Jayden de Laura?

Jayden de Laura vs the Colorado Passing Defense

Jayden de Laura has been a big key for Arizona’s improvement on offense this year at the quarterback position. However, he has not been perfect either. He has thrown for 1,149 yards while having eight touchdowns to six interceptions. he also has a completion percentage of 60%. De Laura was a transfer from Washington State that was also the Pac-12 freshman of the year last year. The Arizona passing attack has benefitted from having him be the new quarterback for the offense. Arizona went through a revolving door of quarterbacks last year, so any stability is good. The receiving corps they have is also one of the best in the Pac-12 because of players like Jacob Cowing and Tetairoa McMillan. De Laura’s struggles this year have been due to him trying to force a few throws, when Arizona has gotten behind, so that’s where you get the amount of interceptions he’s thrown so far. This matchup will be key to Arizona winning or losing because if de Laura has a good game, this might not be close.