Colorado vs Oregon Opening Odds – Buffs 17.5-Point Underdogs Against Ducks in Eugene
- No. 18 Colorado opened as a 17.5-point underdog versus Oregon ahead of their Week 4 showdown in Eugene
- The #18 Buffaloes were the most heavily bet on team in Week 3
- See the complete Colorado vs Oregon opening odds below, plus a prediction on which way the spread will move
The public loves betting on Coach Prime’s 3-0 Colorado Buffaloes and it’s hard to blame them. No. 18 Colorado has rewarded its backers handsomely in two of their first three games, including cashing a big outright ticket as a three score underdog in Week 1.
They’ll have a chance to replicate that feat Saturday in Eugene, as they face No. 13 Oregon. Online sportsbooks are expecting the Buffaloes magical start to come crashing to a halt, pegging the Ducks as massive favorites in the college football odds.
Colorado vs Oregon Opening Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Buffaloes | +17.5 (-110) | +610 | O 70.5 (-110) |
| Oregon Ducks | -17.5 (-110) | -950 | U 70.5 (-110) |
Oregon opened up as a 17.5-point favorite in a contest with a total of 70.5. Less than 12 hours later, the line had already moved up two points in the Ducks’ direction to -19.5.
Colorado had been favored in each of its past two contests over Nebraska and Colorado State. However, an underwhelming performance versus CSU in Week 3, coupled with an injury to two-way star Travis Hunter are a couple of factors influencing this opening line.
Odds as of September 17 at FanDuel. Get a FanDuel promo code to bet on NCAA football in Week 4.
Colorado Is the Ultimate Public Darling
The Buffaloes needed to stage a late night rally to squeak past CSU in overtime. Heisman trophy odds candidate Shedeur Sanders helped erase an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit, before putting the game away in the second OT.
Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders led his team on a 98-yard, game-tying touchdown drive before beating CSU in double OT: pic.twitter.com/QIGwxGEP6e
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 17, 2023
Colorado entered the contest as a 23-point favorite, but even at that sky-high number the public was shovelling money on them. The Buffaloes were the most bet on college team in Week 3, drawing two and a half times more spread wagers than any other program.
That’s been the case for three straight weeks now. Even though the books recouped some of their CU losses this past Saturday, they’ve got a long way to go before they’re back to even.
In Week 1, the Buffaloes were sportsbooks number one liability, and they cashed a +800 outright ticket against the Horned Frogs. A massive amount of Colorado action pushed them from 2.5-point underdogs to 2.5-point favorites over Nebraska in Week 2, and the Buffaloes came away with an easy cover.
Oddsmakers were far less conservative entering Week 3, opening Colorado as the 22-point chalk. That number didn’t deter bettors one bit, as they bet the spread up a full point before kickoff.
Colorado vs Oregon Opening Line Higher Than Projected
Oregon meanwhile, is fresh off a 45-point destruction of Hawaii. That marked their second 40+ point win in three games, with a nail bitter over Texas Tech sandwiched in between. The Ducks lead the nation in scoring and rank second in total offense. They also feature a Heisman contender in QB Bo Nix, while their defense has allowed 10 points or fewer twice already.
Online sportsbooks were already high on the Ducks in this matchup prior to their Week 3 win, but the love affair has since grown. Oregon was a 14.5-point favorite over Colorado in the early Week 4 lookahead lines, and were projected to open in the -16 to -16.5 range by Vegas experts on Sunday.
1. Oregon coach Dan Lanning's reaction to Colorado leaving the Pac-12:
2. "I'm trying to remember what they won to affect this conference and I don't remember … I don't remember them winning anything."
3. Colorado goes to Oregon next Saturday.pic.twitter.com/UDBgQY2Nzs
— RJ Young (@RJ_Young) September 14, 2023
They exceeded that projection but their play alone is not the reason why. Hunter, who logged over 125 snaps in both Weeks 1 and 2, suffered an injury playing offense versus CSU and will not suit up against Oregon.
For all of Shedeur Sanders’ accolades, it’s important to note he’s been taking a beating in the pocket. He’s been sacked 12 times in the last two games alone against defenses that are inferior to the Ducks.
Colorado vs Oregon Line Movement
The early line move from -17.5 to -19.5 is entirely based on sharp action. They see a major discrepancy in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and don’t envision a scenario where Colorado can slow down Oregon. The Buffs have allowed an average of 30.3 points per game, despite playing three offenses graded lower than the Ducks.
Colorado vs Oregon Against the Spread
| Team | ATS Record | Cover % | ATS +/- |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Buffaloes | 2-1 | 66.7% | +9.5 |
| Oregon Ducks | 3-0 | 100% | +12.2 |
The public though, will not back off Colorado. They’re just as infatuated with Coach Prime as his 50+ transfers were. Expect a ton of action on the Buffs leading up to kickoff, just like the previous three weeks. That should drive the line down closer to where it opened, but regardless of where it closes, sportsbooks are going to be rooting against Colorado again on Saturday.
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As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
