In a battle of two offenses with nearly opposite run-pass playing styles, the Colorado Buffaloes (+14) are set to take on the Washington State Cougars (-14) at Clarence D. Martin Stadium. ESPNU is scheduled to have the TV rights and kickoff for this key Pac-12 game is set for 7:00 p.m. ET. These schools met last year with the final outcome being a 31-7 victory for Washington State.
Betting Preview: Colorado Buffaloes vs. Washington State Cougars
In this Saturday Pac-12 game, Washington State is getting picked as the big favorite and the team’s currently giving up 14 points. If they want to take the moneyline, bettors would currently have to lay down $600 in order to win $100 back on the Cougars (-600). The Buffaloes are getting +425 moneyline odds. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) sky-high at 70.5 points, and if one program can create a bunch of points early, it would likely result in a solid in-game betting opportunity.
The opening line was initially -13 while the game’s over/under was originally placed at 69, so sharp bettors have been hammering both the Cougars and the over.
The Buffaloes are 3-3 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 2.2 units so far in 2019. The team’s posted an O/U record of 3-2-1.
The hapless Cougars have lost 16.6 units this season. The team is 1-5 ATS and has an even O/U record of 3-3.
The Buffaloes are 3-3 straight up (SU), including 1-2 SU against Pac-12 opponents. The Cougars are 3-3 SU overall and are also 0-3 SU in conference play.
The Buffaloes hope to bounce back after a 45-3 defeat to Oregon last week. Steven Montez completed just 19 passes on 34 attempts for 131 yards and four interceptions. Alex Fontenot (71 yards on 15 rush attempts) and Jaren Mangham (42 yards on 10 carries) provided the ground attack while Tony Brown (five receptions, 16 yards) and Dimitri Stanley (four catches, 17 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Washington State just suffered a 38-34 defeat to Arizona State. The team’s defensive unit allowed the Sun Devils to pass for 363 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 169 yards and two scores. Brandon Aiyuk was a force to be reckoned with, putting up 196 yards and three touchdowns on seven catches for Arizona State. For Washington State, Anthony Gordon completed 44-of-64 passes for 466 yards and three touchdowns. Max Borghi (31 rushing yards on nine attempts, one TD) handled the running attack as Easop Winston Jr. (14 receptions, 118 yards, one TD) and Renard Bell (seven catches, 54 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Colorado has run the ball on 51.6 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Washington State has an overall rush percentage of 23.9 percent. The Buffaloes have run for 150.7 yards/game (including 155.7 per game versus Pac-12 opponents) and have nine touchdowns on the ground this year. The Cougars are totaling 86 rush yards per game (81 in conference) and have six total rushing TDs.
The Buffaloes offensive scheme has logged 272 yards per game through the air overall (268.3 per game versus conference opposition) and has 11 passing scores so far. The Cougars have recorded an astonishing 452.7 pass yards per outing (429 in the Pac-12) and have 27 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Colorado has allowed opponents to run for an average of 172.8 yards and pass for 307.2 yards per game. The Washington State D has allowed 282 yards per game to opposing passers and 177.0 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Buffaloes have given up an ANY/A of 8.50 to opposing QBs, while the Cougars are yielding an ANY/A of 8.6.
Offensively, Montez has put up 1,295 passing yards this season. He’s completed 109-of-168 attempts with nine scores through the air and six interceptions. Montez has a 6.66 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 3.44 over the past two outings.
Anthony Gordon has completed 181-of-247 passes for 2,360 yards, 24 TDs and four INTs for Washington State. His ANY/A sits at 10.43 for the year and 6.20 over his last two outings.
Colorado Buffaloes vs. Washington State Cougars Free Pick
SU Winner: Washington State, ATS Winner: Washington State, O/U: Under
Betting Notes
- The Over/Under for Colorado’s last game was set at 62.5. The under cashed in the team’s 45-3 loss to Oregon.
- Colorado, as a team, has produced 4.0 yards per carry over its last three games and 4.2 over its last two.
- Washington State has averaged 5.4 yards per carry over its last three outings and only 3.9 over its past two.
- Washington State has lost four fumbles this season while Colorado has lost two.
- In its last three games, Colorado is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Colorado has lost four of its last five games SU, with a three-point victory over Arizona State on September 21st representing the only win over that stretch.
- The Over/Under for Washington State’s previous match was 61. The over cashed in the team’s 38-34 loss to Arizona State.
- Over its last three matches, Washington State is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Buffaloes offense has registered four pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Cougars have put up five such plays.
- The Colorado defense has allowed six pass plays of 40+ yards, while Washington State has given up seven such plays.
- Both defenses have produced five rushing plays of 20 or more yards. The Colorado offense has recorded 26 running plays of 10+ yards while Washington State has accounted for 18 such plays.
- The Buffaloes defense has allowed six rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Cougars have given up eight such runs.
- The Washington State D has created 12 sacks on the year while Colorado has 10.
