Colorado hosts No. 14 Houston as a 9.5-point underdog on Friday night in a late-night Big 12 matchup. The New York Post reported that the Buffaloes enter the game at 3-6 overall and 1-5 in conference play, while the Cougars sit at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Big 12.
Why does this game matter right now?
Deion Sanders insists he is not on the hot seat, but the losses are piling up for his Colorado squad. The Buffaloes look entirely different from the Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders-led team that finished 9-4 during the 2024 season.
Things will not get any easier this weekend against a Houston team still chasing the College Football Playoff. Willie Fritz’s Cougars dropped two games by a single possession on the road against top-10 opponents earlier this season.
No. 10 Texas Tech edged Houston 28-26 in September, while No. 2 Utah secured a 21-13 win in Salt Lake City. Houston needs to run the table in dominant fashion to boost its resume.
Can Houston’s offense dominate?
The Cougars certainly have the roster depth to do so. Quarterback Conner Weigman commands attention with his Heisman-caliber statistics, but the ground game drives the offense.
Houston averages over five yards per carry. That efficiency keeps the offense ahead of the sticks and lightens the load on Weigman during critical situations.
The Cougars currently rank No. 1 in the FBS for third-down conversion rate.
Where are the defensive vulnerabilities?
While Houston’s offense operates at a high level, the defense carries notable flaws. The unit ranks outside the top 100 in yards per play and struggles to generate consistent pressure up front.
Colorado’s offense has sputtered for large stretches of the year. However, this particular matchup suits the Buffaloes, who will likely need to push the pace to match Houston.
The point spread sits at 9.5 points, which might be slightly wide for a confident wager on the Cougars. The Over set at 51.5 points offers a more reliable path.
Michael Leboff analyzed the matchup for the New York Post, recommending the Over 51.5 points at -110 odds via DraftKings.
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