Colorado travels to play Nebraska in a battle of two former Big 12 programs on the upswing. The Buffaloes played a tight game against FCS North Dakota State in Week 1, escaping with a 31-26 victory behind three receiving touchdowns from star two-way player Travis Hunter.
Nebraska got off to a slow start against UTEP in its opener but scored 23 unanswered points in the second quarter to zoom past the Miners with a 40-7 victory. In his debut with the ‘Huskers, freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola completed 67% of his passes and threw two scores. Transfer receiver Isaiah Neyor posted 121 yards and a touchdown in the win.
Colorado and Nebraska have played 72 times in history, including every year between 1948 and 2010, when Nebraska left the Big 12. The Cornhuskers have been dominant historically with a 49-21-2 record, but Colorado has won all three matchups since both programs left the Big 12. Last season, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw for 393 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-14 win, the Buffaloes’ only victory of the season by more than one score.
Colorado vs. Nebraska: Need to know
Old vs. new: This matchup pits two of the most interesting quarterbacks in college football against each other. Sanders is on the short list of best quarterbacks in the country and is a potential first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. On the other sideline, Nebraska recruited Raiola, the program’s best prospect since 2005. This will be Raiola’s biggest test of his young career in front of a national spotlight.
Heisman contender: Two-way star Hunter made headlines last season for his performance, but Hunter’s play against North Dakota State was off the charts. The junior caught seven passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns in the win. While he allowed two catches, Hunter allowed just 14 total yards against the Bison’s potent passing attack at cornerback. Hunter was credited with a mid-boggling 136 snaps against North Dakota State. If he’s able to keep up this pace, he will be competitive for every applicable national award.
Battle in the trenches: While Colorado’s passing game played well, the revamped lines were inconsistent in their first performance. Buffaloes running backs mustered just 2.5 yards per carry and Colorado rushed for only 59 yards total. The defensive line played well at the point of attack, but NDSU quarterback Cam Miller exposed their issues in contain to the tune of 81 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Nebraska posted a top-10 rushing defense last season, so the Buffaloes could have to live with a one-dimensional approach.
How to watch Colorado vs. Nebraska live
Date: Saturday, Sept. 7 | Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Memorial Stadium — Lincoln, Nebraska
TV: NBC | Live stream: fubo (Try for free)
Colorado vs. Nebraska prediction, picks
Last season, Nebraska turned the ball over on three of its first six possessions to spot Colorado a 13-0 lead from which it could never recover. This year, the Cornhuskers are miles better in nearly every aspect. If Raiola can play a clean game, Nebraska has the pieces up front to make life difficult for Colorado and ultimately escape Lincoln with a decisive victory. Pick: Nebraska -7
Which college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 2? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread — all from a proven computer model that has returned over $2,000 in profit since its inception — and find out.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login