Colorado Vs. Oregon: Prediction, Best Bets, Odds (9/23/23) NCAAF

#10 Oregon faces #19 Colorado this Saturday in a Pac-12 showdown. Get a full matchup preview below, as well as our Oregon Vs. Colorado best bet and prediction, which is Oregon -21.

Colorado Vs. Oregon Prediction & Best Bet

Last week, I backed Colorado State +24 against Colorado, but I never expected them to be winning for most of the game. Colorado State had a 28-17 lead in the fourth quarter with the Colorado offense looking defeated. The atmosphere at Folsom Field had completely deflated.

However, Shedeur Sanders led an incredible comeback punctuated by a 7-play, 98-yard scoring drive to tie the game. The Rams had 16 penalties for 176 yards, turned the ball over four times, and did all they could to gift wrap the win for their in-state rival.

This week, they have a much tougher challenge. Colorado will be without Travis Hunter for the next few games after the wide receiver/cornerback extraordinaire lacerated his liver during last week’s game. That puts an already vulnerable defense in a difficult position.

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix should have a signature performance against this questionable Colorado pass defense, and I’ll break him down below. Bucky Irving should also excel in this matchup – his 8.4 yards per carry clip is tied for fifth in the country.

While Oregon has the ability to run and pass the ball, Colorado’s run game has been largely nonexistent as they rank outside the top 100 in rushing EPA and success rate. That leaves Shedeur Sanders to take over in the most difficult matchup of his career.

Every Colorado game this season feels like the biggest game of all time, and that trajectory gets exhausting. Oregon, meanwhile, is fresh off a blowout win over Hawaii and beat Portland State 81-7 in Week 1. They’re well rested and primed for conference play.

The Deion Sanders experience has been fun, but I’m betting on Oregon to win decisively in this game. The atmosphere at Autzen should be electric and I don’t expect the Ducks to be nearly as generous to their opponent as Colorado State was last week.

Colorado Vs. Oregon Prediction & Best Bet: Oregon -21

Colorado Vs. Oregon Betting Odds

The line for this game originally opened at Oregon -15, but it has since been bought all the way to -21. This is while the vast majority of the public is backing Colorado once again – this is a classic Pros vs. Joes game. The total for this game sits at 71 points, suggesting sportsbooks are expecting a high-paced shootout, and it’s hard to argue with them.

Colorado Vs. Oregon Key Matchups

While several matchups help determine the outcome of a game, this is a game where each team’s quarterback will be their most important player on the field. Let’s take a look at Oregon’s Bo Nix and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.

Bo Nix Vs. Colorado’s Pass Defense

Bo Nix is flying under the radar right now, but he shouldn’t be. He threw for over 3,500 yards last season along with 29 touchdowns to just 7 interceptions. Through three games this season, he has the 8th-best passer rating in the country with eight touchdowns to no interceptions.

Nix is used to playing under the spotlight through his time at Auburn and Oregon, and he’ll rise to the occasion. He’s receiving Heisman buzz and early first-round NFL considerations, and with Sanders drawing much of the buzz in national media, Nix will take advantage of this opportunity to put on a show.

The Colorado pass defense has been showing cracks, and it’s about to burst this week. They’ve faced two of the bottom 20 passers in the country by PFF passing grades, and yet they still rank 113th in success rate allowed through the air. It doesn’t help that Travis Hunter, their best cornerback, won’t be available for this game.

Shedeur Sanders Vs. Oregon’s Pass Defense

Shedeur Sanders has had an excellent season so far as he’s thrown 10 touchdowns to just one interception. He’s second in the country with 1,250 passing yards through three games, as well. Despite Colorado’s offense being limited by a poor offensive line and run game, Sanders has led them to over 40 points per game so far.

However, this will be Sanders’s toughest challenge in hostile territory against an excellent Oregon pass defense. The Ducks rank top ten in EPA and success rate allowed against the pass, and while they have yet to play anyone notable, Dan Lanning knows how to coach a defense – he was the defensive coordinator for the first of Georgia’s back-to-back titles.

I had concerns about Oregon’s secondary after they lost Christian Gonzalez, an NFL first-round pick who’s already producing at a high level for the Patriots. However, Alabama transfer Khyree Jackson is excelling across from Jahlil Florence, a former four-star recruit poised for a breakthrough sophomore season.

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I've been a huge sports fan for as long as I can remember and I've always loved writing. In 2020, I joined the Lineups team, and I've been producing written and video content on football and basketball ever since. In May 2021, I graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in sport management. My goal is to tell enthralling stories and provide meaningful insight on the sports I write about while helping you cash some bets along the way.

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