Baylor vs. Colorado: Prediction, Preview, Betting Odds
Week 4 of the college football season is here. Baylor plays Colorado, and Heartland College Sports has your game prediction, preview, and betting odds ahead of the matchup.
GAME INFO
Saturday, Sept. 21; 7:00 p.m. (CT); Folsom Field; Boulder, CO
TV: FOX
Records: Baylor (2-1); Colorado (2-1)
Last Week: Baylor 31, Air Force 3; Colorado 28, Colorado State 9
Series History: Colorado leads, 9-7-0
Last Meeting:Â Baylor 31, Colorado 25 (2010)
Fun Fact:Â Baylor has won three of the last four meetings, coming in 2003, 2006, and 2010, with Colorado posting a 43-23 win in 2007. The Buffs won five straight in the series from 1992-2002. Baylor is looking to win its third straight game in Boulder. (per Baylor Bears Game Notes)
Baylor vs. Colorado Betting Lines and Odds
Opening Line: Colorado (-1.0)
Over/Under: 54.5
Key Players
Baylor Bears
QB Dequan Finn
Baylor has itself a quarterback controversy after Dequan Finn was injured against Utah and was replaced by former Mississippi State transfer Sawyer Robertson, who started last week against Air Force in a 31-3 win. Finn is undoubtedly the more dynamic of the two quarterbacks and gives Baylor’s offense a different element when he’s in the game. However, Robertson showed a great command of the Bears’ attack last week and has made it a tough call for Dave Aranda ahead of Week 4.
LB Matt Jones
It feels like Matt Jones has been at Baylor since the last time Baylor and Colorado played in 2010, and that experience has turned him into the unquestioned leader or the Bears’ defensive unit. Jones is in his sixth season with BU and leads the team with 28 tackles through three games on the season. With 241 tackles to this point in his career, there’s not a lot that Jones hasn’t seen. His experience will be key for the Bears’ defense on Saturday.
Colorado Buffaloes
QB Shedeur Sanders
Through the first three weeks of the 2024 season, Shedeur Sanders is among the nation’s top passers, ranking fifth in the country with 999 passing yards along with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. However, through the first three games of the year, Sanders has already been sacked seven times, including five times against Nebraska — the only defense that’s been much of a challenge. Will Shedeur be able to stay clean and make the throws necessary to control the pace of this game?
DL Dayon Hayes
Colorado’s defense has certainly had its struggles this season, but one of the bright spots on the year yas definitely been the play of Pitt transfer Dayon Hayes. Through three games, Hayes ranks fifth on the team in tackles and leads with two sacks. Against a Baylor offensive line that is still building confidence, he’ll have a chance to get them off schedule in key moments. If Hayes can do that enough, it could be the difference in the game.
KEY STORYLINES
Baylor Bears
Who gets the start at quarterback? After transferring in from Toledo this past offseason, it was a foregone conclusion that Dequan Finn was set to be at the controls of the Baylor offense in 2024. However, after a sloppy start to the year and his subsequent injury against Utah, Finn took a seat and Sawyer Robertson took advantage of his opportunity. The Bears’ offense will not be explosive enough to overcome turnovers this season, and that was much of the problem last year. Robertson struggled in that department a year ago but has been clean thus far in ’24. Meanwhile, Finn threw two interceptions against Tarleton State in the opener. The Big 12 opener is a huge game for BU, and seeing who gets the start here will tell us a lot about the locker room.
Colorado Buffaloes
Can Colorado get over the hump and beat a Power Four team? Look, this isn’t a slight towards Colorado in any way — it’s just an observation that’s starting to hold some real water. The Buffs haven’t beaten a Power Four team since October 7 of last season, and in the time since then, the book has been written on how to take down Deion’s squad. Baylor isn’t a Big 12 frontrunner, but they appear to be a solid team that has a good chance at getting to a bowl game. Getting a win over the Bears and moving to 1-0 in Big 12 play will be important if Colorado wants to go bowling itself. This is a game that they’ll need to take advantage of if the Buffaloes are going to reach that six-win mark.
PREDICTION: Baylor 27, Colorado 24
I expect two things to happen in this game. First, I expect this to be a sloppy game between two teams who know they need to win. Penalties and turnovers will ultimately be outshined by “effort plays,” and whoever makes more of those is going to win the football game.
Secondly, I expect Baylor to win the time of possession in this game. If there’s anything that can force Colorado off of its game, it’s limiting its offensive possessions. Keeping Shedeur Sanders on the sidelines has been a recipe for success for the Buffs opponents, and that’s the direction I expect Dave Aranda to go. It won’t be pretty, but give me Baylor to win a close one as the road dog in Boulder.
