Colorado vs. UCF: Prediction, Preview, Betting Odds
Week 5 of the college football season is here. Colorado plays UCF, and Heartland College Sports has your game prediction, preview, and betting odds ahead of the matchup.
GAME INFO
Saturday, September 28; 2:30 p.m. CT; FBC Mortgage Stadium; Orlando, FL
TV: FOX
Records: Colorado (3-1, 1-0); UCF (3-0, 1-0)
Last Week: Colorado 38, Baylor 31 (F/OT); UCF idle
Series History: First-ever meeting
Last Meeting: N/A
Fun Fact:Â This is a significant game for Deion Sanders and Colorado. It marks their first road game in Big 12 and the first time Sanders will return to his home state as the Buffaloes’ head coach.
UCF vs. Colorado Betting Lines and Odds
Opening Line: UCF (-12)
Over/Under: 63.5
Key Players
Colorado Buffaloes
QB Shedeur Sanders
Through the first four games of the 2024 season, there aren’t many quarterbacks in the country who can match the production we’ve seen from Shedeur Sanders. He’s completed 67.9% of his attempts for 1,340 yards and 11 touchdowns with two interceptions. Sanders is currently on track to surpass his best statistical year, the 2022 season at Jackson State, and will likely have to throw the ball all over the field if Colorado is going to upset UCF.
CB Travis Hunter
Travis Hunter might not win the Heisman Trophy because he doesn’t play the correct position, but make no mistake — he’s the best player in college football. He carries a five-game streak of over 100 receiving yards into this game and is coming off a game-sealing forced fumble against Baylor in overtime. If there’s a play to be made, it’s likely No. 12 will be involved.
UCF Knights
RB RJ Harvey
Pound-for-pound, there might not be a better running back in college football than RJ Harvey. Through the first four games of the season, Harvey has turned 59 carries into 448 yards (7.6 ypc) and eight touchdowns while adding another touchdown through the air. Harvey is the player to watch against Colorado, who ranks 82nd nationally with 150.8 rushing yards allowed per game.
LB Deshawn Pace
One of the best transfer moves of the offseason has been UCF’s addition of Deshawn Pace from Cincinnati. He leads the team with 19 tackles through three games and has been pivotal for the Knights thus far. Pace will be busy against Colorado, as their skill talent will be the best that UCF has seen to this point. Keeping Sanders and Hunter under wraps is quite the task, and Pace will need to lead the charge.
KEY STORYLINES
Colorado Buffaloes
Can Colorado slow down UCF’s rushing attack? One of the Buffaloes’ biggest issues has been stopping teams who are proficient running the football. UCF certainly fits that description, with a nation-leading 375.7 rushing yards per game. If CU can’t slow down the Knights’ offense, they’ll never have a chance in this game. That will be the primary goal for Deion Sanders and Co. this week, and if they can limit UCF in that category, they’ll have a shot.
UCF Knights
Can UCF limit the explosive plays from Colorado’s skill talent? To this point in the year, UCF ranks 94th in pass defense, allowing 238.7 yards per game through the air. However, if Colorado can’t establish the running game, UCF can drop eight and limit Shedeur Sanders’ chances to push the ball downfield. However, if CU can attack the edges of UCF’s defense and open up passing lanes, the Knights’ secondary could be prone to big plays.
PREDICTION: UCF 41, Colorado 27
Colorado’s offense will put up some points in this game, but I just don’t see how they keep UCF from controlling the pace of the game with their rushing attack. The Knights have the deepest stable of running backs in college football and this is a terrible matchup for the Buffaloes, especially on the road. Give me UCF to win and cover, as they top 300 yards on the ground for the third time in four games.
