This matchup features a pair of instate rivals as the 0-1 Colorado State Rams travel to take on the #18-ranked Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday night in week 3 of the college football season. The Rams enter this game with a record of 0-1 following a 24-50 loss at home against the Washington State Cougars in week 1 of the college football season while the Colorado Buffaloes have a record of 2-0 following wins on the road against the TCU Horned Frogs by a score of 45-42 and at home against the Nebraska Cornhuskers by a score of 36-14. Will the Buffaloes win in a rout to improve to 3-0 on the season or will the Rams keep the score respectable? Let’s take a closer look at how these teams are faring this season.

The Colorado State Rams enter this game 0-1 following a 24-50 loss at home against the Washington State Cougars while failing to cover the 8.5-point spread as a home underdog in week 1 of the college football season. Colorado State scored 24 points while compiling 345 total yards which included 323 passing yards and 22 rushing yards while allowing 50 points and 569 total yards defensively which included 466 passing yards and 103 rushing yards. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi led the team in passing, completing 9 of 12 attempts for 172 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Avery Morrow led the team in rushing with 11 carries for 29 yards. Justus Ross-Simmons led the team in receiving, catching five of eight targets for 123 yards and a touchdown.

Colorado enters this game ranked 18^th in the AP Poll and 21^st in the Coaches Poll with a record of 2-0 following a 36-14 win at home against the Nebraska Cornhuskers while covering the 2.5-point spread as a home favorite in week 2 of the college football season. The Buffaloes scored 36 points while compiling 453 passing yards which included 396 passing yards and 57 rushing yards while allowing 14 points and 341 total yards defensively which included 119 passing yards and 222 rushing yards. Shedeur Sanders led the team in passing, completing 31 of 42 attempts for 393 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for a touchdown. Dylan Edwards led the team in rushing with nine carries for 55 yards while adding three receptions for eight yards. Xavier Weaver led the team in receiving, catching 10 of 12 targets for 170 yards and a touchdown.

BookMaker has the Colorado Buffaloes listed as Colorado Buffaloes listed as 23-point favorites at home against the Colorado State Rams on Saturday night in week 3 of the college football season. Colorado has won eight of the last ten including the previous five matchups in a row while going 9-1 ATS in the last ten and 3-0 ATS in the last three games in the series. Colorado State is 0-1 ATS overall and 0-1 ATS as an underdog this season while the Colorado Buffaloes are 2-0 ATS overall, 1-0 ATS at home, and 1-0 ATS as a favorite.

Colorado is the better team this season and has been the dominant team in the series, winning eight of the last ten including the previous five matchups in a row. The Buffaloes are 9-1 ATS in the last ten and 3-0 ATS in the last three games in the series. I look for those trends to continue in this matchup which is why I am taking the Colorado Buffaloes -23 at home against the Colorado State Rams in week 3 of the college football season.