Colorado vs NDSU Parlay
- Shedeur Sanders Over 2.5 Passing Touchdowns (-146)
- Travis Hunter 70+ Receiving Yards (-144)
- Jimmy Horn Jr. Over 42.5 Receiving Yards (-114)
- TK Marshall Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+102)
- Over 55.5 Alternate Total Points (-184)
Parlay Odds: +795 via FanDuel
Last season, Colorado set the college football world ablaze with a 3-0 start that featured victories over 2023 national runner-up TCU and rivals Nebraska and Colorado State.
Head coach Deion Sanders quickly made many forget that the Buffaloes were 1-11 in 2022. However, despite the instant success, the Buffaloes finished the year 1-8 while navigating a difficult Pac-12 schedule.
This season, Colorado will play in the Big 12, and expectations are high for Year 2 of the Coach Prime era. However, the Buffaloes may have a battle on their hands in the season opener against the North Dakota State Bison.
For most FCS programs, an 11-4 record and a semifinal appearance in the FCS Playoffs would be an excellent season. But that's not the case for North Dakota State, a program that has won nine national championships in the past 13 years.
New head coach Tim Polasek will look to help the Bison secure another national title this season, but first, they'll be looking to pull off an upset in Boulder.
With the stage set, let's get to my Colorado vs. NDSU SGP.
Shedeur Sanders Over 2.5 Passing Touchdowns (-146)
After spending his first two collegiate seasons at Jackson State, Sanders transferred to Colorado for his junior season. In doing so, he not only proved he could play at the FBS level, but also that he's one of the nation's best quarterbacks.
Last season, Sanders threw for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns against three interceptions and completed over 69% of his passes.
Sanders threw 20 of his touchdown passes in Colorado's first seven games last season. It was also typically how the team scored. Colorado struggled to establish a running game last season, averaging 4.4 yards per carry on non-sack running plays with 12 rushing touchdowns — four of which Sanders ran in himself.
That means that even in the red zone, Colorado is more likely to score through the air. Sanders has one of the nation's best receiving cores at his disposal and added to that group with transfers Will Sheppard and LaJohntay Wester.
Travis Hunter 70+ Receiving Yards (-144)
Hunter joined Sanders in transferring to Colorado from Jackson State and instantly flashed his tantalizing two-way ability. In nine games, Hunter tied for the team lead with three interceptions and was second on the team with 57 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns. Despite often playing over 100 snaps, Hunter was a target monster when lined up offensively.
Hunter had five receptions in five games last season, including eight receptions in four of them. As a result, Hunter had 70 receiving yards in seven of nine games last season. He went over 100 yards three times, including in last year's season opener against TCU.
Hunter is often the best athlete on the field and that will be the case once again against the Bison. That will give him the opportunity to rack up yards after the catch if he gets the ball in space.
Jimmy Horn Jr. Over 42.5 Receiving Yards (-114)
In his first season in Boulder, Horn had 58 receptions for 567 yards and six touchdowns. Horn had much of his production in the first half of the year as he had at least 49 receiving yards in six of Colorado's first seven games last season.
Horn averaged just 9.8 yards per reception last season, but averaged 14.3 yards per reception in his first two seasons at South Florida. There, he flashed more big play potential, as he had receptions of 80 and 91 yards.
Horn will likely work out of the slot and may be able to exploit a mismatch and turn it into a big gain. If not, he still likely hits this line with four receptions.
TK Marshall Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+102)
Last season, North Dakota State ranked fourth in the FCS with 237.3 rushing yards per game and led the FCS with 47 rushing touchdowns. The rushing attack will give NDSU a chance to pull off an upset in this game. Colorado ranked 110th in rushing yards allowed per game and 105th in rushing touchdowns allowed last season.
Colorado did address its defensive line in the portal with the additions of BJ Green II, Dayon Hayes, Samuel Okunlola, Chidozie Nwankwo, Anquin Barnes Jr., Taurean Carter and Quency Wiggins.
However, I need to see the group in action before I buy the Buffaloes shutting down a ground attack like North Dakota State's.
There aren't any rushing yardage props available for the Bison, but there are a few anytime touchdown options, so I'm rolling with TK Marshall.
The senior ran for 386 yards on 4.9 yards per carry last season. He scored six touchdowns on just 79 carries and there should be more opportunities for him this season. Last season's leading rusher, TaMerik Williams (767 yards and eight touchdowns), has moved on and Barika Kpeenu (501 yards and four touchdowns) is questionable with a knee injury.
The Bison rotate quarterbacks Cam Miller and Cole Payton and feature both in the ground game, but Marshall may be the NDSU running back with the most carries in this game.
I think the Bison will run for a couple of scores in this game, and I expect Marshall to run in one of them.
Over 55.5 Alternate Total Points (-184)
We've made it to the final leg of this parlay, and if the first four legs hit, we'll be on sitting on 27-28 points, pending extra points and two-point conversions.
From there, we'll need another 28 points or so to get over this line, which shouldn't be an issue.
In games Colorado won or was favored in last season, it averaged 38.8 points per game. However, its defense was a letdown and allowed nearly 35 points per game.
Meanwhile, North Dakota State averaged 38 points while surrendering 20 points per game. An average NDSU game gets us over this line, but it's moving up a level for this game.
It won't be intimidated for this game though. North Dakota State is 6-1 against FBS opponents since 2010 with the loss being a 31-28 defeat to Arizona two seasons ago.
