• Colorado vs Oregon highlights the Week 4 college football slate this Saturday (Sep. 21)
• The Buffaloes survived a scare against rival CSU last week and are big underdogs against their first top-ten opponent
• See the Colorado vs Oregon odds, prediction, and picks for Saturday’s Pac-12 opener both for teams

The talk of the nation after two weeks, the sheen has come off Deion Sanders’ #19 Colorado Buffaloes (3-0, 2-1 ATS) heading into their Week 4 matchup with the #10 Oregon Ducks (3-0, 3-0 ATS) at Autzen Stadium this Saturday (3:30 pm ET/12:30 pm PT).

The high-flying Ducks, who have covered every game this season, are currently massive 21-point home favorites and -950 on the moneyline.

Colorado vs Oregon Odds

The Buffaloes come back at +600 odds to pull off the upset. The game total is at a stunning 69.5, which is six points higher than any other total in Week 4. (SMU vs TCU at 63.5 is the second-highest on the board.)

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Oregon is currently tenth in the national championship odds at +3060, on average, a significant improvement from where they started the season (+4350). The Buffaloes’ odds have also improved significantly over the past three weeks, moving from +24167 to +9520. Colorado only needs one more win to hit the over on its preseason NCAAF win total of 3.5.

CU vs ORE ATS Betting Trends

It’s hard to find fault with Oregon’s early-season performance. Not only are they 3-0 straight-up, they’ve also covered their first three games against the spread.

The Ducks’ season started with an 81-7 romp over FCS Portland State as 48-point chalk, continued with a 38-30 road win at Texas Tech as 4.5-point favorites and, most recently, witnessed a 55-10 rout over Hawai’i at home as 38-point favorites.

Hyper-mobile QB Bo Nix, who upped his completion percentage from 61.0 to 71.9% last season, has continued to develop as a passer; he’s completed nearly 80% of his throws so far in 2023 (76-98) for 893 yards, eight touchdowns, and no interceptions. Nix is just outside the top-five favorites in the Heisman odds as a result of his early-season exploits.

The biggest concern in Eugene right now is discipline. In their two games against FBS competition, the Ducks have committed a staggering 23 penalties for exactly 200 yards.

Colorado started its year with two hugely-impressive wins – on the road at #17 TCU (45-42) and at home against Nebraska (36-14). Coincidentally, the Buffs faced the exact same 21-point spread against TCU that they’re staring down in Eugene. They also covered easily against Nebraska as slim 2.5-point home favorites.

Those wins had the Neon Deion hype train blistering down the tracks heading into Week 3, and the spread in their rivalry game against CSU was bet all the way up to 23.5. But Colorado disappointed against the Rams, gritting out a 43-35 OT win while getting outgained 499 yards to 418 yards.

Two-Way Star Travis Hunter Out for Colorado

One of the reasons this spread is so big is the injury to Colorado WR/DB Travis Hunter. The two-way star was rocked by a late/dirty hit by Colorado State’s Henry Blackburn last week.

Travis Hunter was targeted on this play. Ball is already on the ground. That hit was straight to the chest. Colorado Buffaloes vs Colorado State. pic.twitter.com/W3qaNMWtJc

— Just Knowledge (@j_knowledgeable) September 17, 2023

Taken to hospital after the game, the dynamic sophomore will be sidelined at least three weeks due to a lacerated liver. Hunter is third on the team in receiving yards (213) and is averaging 13.3 yards per catch. In the secondary, he’s pulled in one INT and registered two passes defensed while making nine tackles.

Colorado vs Oregon Prediction

The total here is an astronomical 69 while the first-half over/under is sitting at 37. The performance from Colorado’s defense last week, against a mediocre CSU offense, was less than encouraging. That unit was also torched for 42 points in Week 1 by TCU and it’s somewhat terrifying to think what Oregon’s potent and varied attack is going to do to the Buffs.

But at the same, Oregon’s defense stands a decent chance of keeping Shedeur Sanders and the Colorado offense in check, especially with Hunter out. The Ducks’ D has proven susceptible to the run, which is not Colorado’s forte. If they can limit Sanders in the passing game and stop committing so many penalties, the Buffs will be hard-pressed to put the ball in the paint.

Don’t expect Colorado to hit double-digits by halftime, which would put the onus on Oregon to score four TDs in the first half in order to hit over 37. The number is just too high.

Colorado vs Oregon Pick: first half under 37 points (-110)

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