Coach Prime took over a one-win program that was in freefall in 2023 and guided it to a bowl game and nine wins just two years later.
Was it all Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, or will 2025 prove that Deion Sanders is a force in the coaching profession?
Let's dive into my college football picks and NCAAF predictions for Colorado's first five games of the 2025 season.
Georgia Tech vs. Colorado Pick
The Yellow Jackets are a service academy in Power Four clothing. Georgia Tech finished top-30 in time of possession, often playing keep-away from its opponents.
While it ran the ball just 56% of the time, the vast majority of its passing attempts were high-percentage throws inside of 10 yards.
Quarterback Haynes King was a checkdown merchant, whose average depth of target was just 6.1. Among qualifying quarterbacks with at least 285 attempts last fall, his ADOT was the second-lowest in the nation.
This translated to long, clock-killing drives. As a result, eight of GT’s 13 games went under the closing total. I’m riding this trend in the opener and playing the under.
Pick: Under 56.5
Delaware vs. Colorado Pick
The Blue Hens are well-positioned to make some noise in their first year in Conference USA.
Delaware features a feisty defense that returns 76% of its production, which is the fourth-highest mark in FBS football. The Blue Hens finished inside the top 25 among FCS defenses in scoring average, total defense and sacks.
Offensively, they have serious question marks as they look to land on a full-time starter at quarterback. With Ryan O’Connor calling it quits, UDel will have to choose between Zach Marker and Nick Minicucci.
Both will likely be running for their lives in this game behind a green offensive line that returns just one starter. Colorado racked up 93 tackles for loss last fall (18th) and could feast here.
I would play the under down to 50 because there’s a chance UDel doesn’t hit double-digits.
Pick: Under 50 or Better
Colorado vs. Houston Pick
Houston was a mess offensively in Willie Fritz's first season. The Cougars scored just 52 points in their first five games, and it didn’t get much better from there.
But their defense showed fight in the second half of the year, helping them capture a season-defining upset of Kansas State in November.
The transfer portal treated them well this offseason, with Texas A&M’s Conner Weigman making the 90-minute trek down US-290.
Pepper in the other portal commits — namely UAB’s Amare Thomas, Rice’s Dean Connors and Ball State/Wisconsin’s Tanner Koziol — and I think we could see a huge production jump in UH’s offense this fall.
I’m siding with the Cougars in this Big 12 matchup.
Pick: Houston -1
Wyoming vs. Colorado Pick
Wyoming had a strong identity under Craig Bohl. The coaching legend led the Pokes to six bowl games in his final eight years in Laramie behind ball-control offenses and salty defenses.
Well, Year 1 of the post-Bohl era was a disaster. The offense didn’t break 20 points per game, and the defense finished outside the top 100 in Havoc.
Colorado’s revamped offensive line could be one of the best in the Big 12 after it landed guard Xavier Hill in the portal. The Buffs will be able to run it, protect Kaidon Salter in the pocket and put up a big number here.
This is Colorado’s second opportunity in September to blow someone out, and I’m banking on them to do it here.
Pick: Colorado -16.5
BYU vs. Colorado Pick
A rematch of last year’s Alamo Bowl has the potential to be must-watch TV.
The Cougars will almost assuredly enter undefeated, thanks to a cupcake nonconference schedule. That will also give BYU time to break in new faces on defense and in its receiving corps.
Where I think this game will swing is along the lines. Colorado is light years better in the trenches than it was two years ago, and it starts with Alabama transfer Jehiem Oatis as their monster in the middle at 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds.
The Buffs are 9-3 against the spread at Folsom Field under Sanders, and I think the home cooking will make the difference here once again.
Pick: Colorado +2.5
