Colorado Buffaloes vs TCU Horned Frogs NCAAF Week 1 Preview and Prediction September 2, 2023
Posted 2 months ago | Betting Previews and Predictions, Featured, NCAAF, Uncategorized | 9 comments
Colorado vs TCU September 2, 2023 @ Fort Worth TX
Opening Betting Odds
Spread: TCU -20, Colorado +20.
Moneyline: TCU -790, Colorado +600
Total: 59.5
Preview
Colorado lost 38-13 at home versus TCU last year, but there is a lot more excitement in Boulder this year with Dion Sanders at the helm and a move to the BIG12 on the horizon. That said TCU will come in as a 20-point favorite in this game, and the Buffaloes season win total is set at just 3.5.
While we expect to see a vastly improved roster from the Colorado team that went 1-11 last year, there has been a ton of turnover and with so many moving parts it may take time to yield results. The Horned Frogs ran for 275 yards and four touchdowns in 38-13 win at Colorado in Week 1 last year.
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Colorado
- 1-11 Overall in 2022
- 1-8 in the PAC12 in 2022
- 2-10 ATS in 2022
After ranking dead last in the country in scoring defense in 2022 allowing 44.5 points per game, a culture change was necessary at Colorado. Deion Sanders was a massive hire for the Buffaloes, and star players from around the country are lining up to play for him. New defensive coordinator Charles Kelly steps in and he has the top corner in the country, two-way star Travis Hunter. He’s one of several talented players that has come with Deion from Jacckson State.
High profile transfers include Shane Cokes (Dartmouth); edge rushers Jordan Domineck (Arkansas), linebacker LaVonta Bentley (Clemson); and safety Myles Slusher (Arkansas), receivers Xavier Weaver and Jimmy Horn Jr. (USF); and running backs Kavosiey Smoke (Kentucky) and Alton McCaskill IV (Houston). This team should be a lot more competitive, but the schedule is tough and it could take time for everything to gel.
TCU
- 13-2 Overall in 2022
- 9-0 in the BIG12 in 2022
- 10-4-1 ATS in 2022
Max Duggan was the leading passer in the BIG12 last season, throwing for 3,698 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He stepped in to replace Chandler Morris in the Week 1 win over Colorado, as Morris actually came into the season as the starter. With Duggan drafted by the LA Chargers, Morris takes the reigns for the 2023 season. In addition to losing their starting quarterback, the Horned Frogs have to replace their two leading rushers and top three receivers.
They bring back eight starters on defense, and they have a talented corps of linebackers including Johnny Hodges. Alabama transfers JoJo Earle (WR) and Trey Saunders (RB) should help fill some holes on offense.
Relevant Trends:
- The Buffaloes are 8-20 ATS in their last 28 road games.
- The Horned Frogs are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 games overall.
- The Horned Frogs are 4-1 ATS in their last five non-conference games.
- The Buffaloes are 0-6 ATS in their last six games in September.
- The over is 8-2-1 in the Buffaloes last 11 games overall.
Prediction: TCU 38 – Colorado 17
It won’t be easy for Colorado to start their season on the road at TCU. While the Horned Frogs lost a lot of talent from the squad that ran the table in the BIG12 last year, this team is still expected to be a factor in the conference this season. An outright win here is likely not in the cards for the visitors here, but perhaps winning some moral victories and avoiding embarrassment will be a step in the right direction.
9 comments on Colorado Buffaloes vs TCU Horned Frogs NCAAF Week 1 Preview and Prediction September 2, 2023
Colorado he’s going to cover for sure and probably I’ll write win the game sounds crazy I know but last year I took Tennessee speak Alabama all right because Alabama should’ve lost Texas they got lucky now reading between the lines in Sanders interview what did he say he would he got lime in from the south he went and got papers from the south all the big guys that weren’t getting enough play time
Lewis put up 22 points on #1 Georgia with Kent state last year… you don’t think there was a talent GAP in that game…. TCU scored 7 points against Georgia with less of a talent gap
Deion isn’t getting enough credit. He will field a competitive team and this won’t be easy for TCU. Losing the offensive coordinator hurts the Horned Frogs, and I think they should be on upset alert here.
The Buffaloes have god on their side. Deion and his boys are true believers, and they shall by the grace of god win this game and make believers of us all.
Anyone know if they had to cut off Deion’s foot? It was all over the news that they were gonna have to cut his freaking foot off. That dude got some issues bigger than coaching football. I know he has his god and all that .. but losing a foot is pretty effed up!
I am with Thor, I think there is a good chance that Deion and the Buffaloes catch TCU napping here in Week 1. We talk a lot about the turnover at Colorado, but they Horned Frogs have some turnover as well.
Anyone who thinks Colorado is gonna be good just because Deion is there is smoking too much weed. This team sucked last year so bad, and no team ever goes from 1-11 and dead last in defense … then is good a year later. Colorado will be like Nebraska was last year. Too much change …
Deion Saunders was a great hire for Colorado, but if you think he’s gonna come into Fort Worth and win in Week 1 then you must be smoking too much of that legal grass. There are a ton of transfers from Jackson State, and keep in mind they are used to playing in the SWAC. This team is NOT going to a bowl, they will be better, but don’t expect much until years 2-3.
Nice preview but I am telling you right now Coach Prime will his guys ready. These guys would take a bullet for him, and they will come to play. Buffs win outright, you heard it here first! Colorado 33 – TCU 28