The Colorado Buffaloes and TCU Horned Frogs meet Saturday in week 1 college football action at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

Colorado Buffaloes Betting Preview

Colorado has won a combined 9 games in the last 3 seasons, and now begins the Deion Sanders era. Sanders has new coordinators in Sean Lewis and Charles Kelly as well. Shedeur Sanders will take over at quarterback after 70 touchdown passes in 2 years at Jackson State. Colorado has to find rushing production with Deion Smith and Alex Fontenot gone, and the Buffaloes say goodbye to their top-8 receivers from last season as well. Defensively, Trevor Woods returns after 79 tackles and Chance Main had 0.5 sacks, but those are the only two productive defensive players returning from last year. Needless to say, Colorado completely cleaned house and is banking on Primetime to change the culture of this program. We’re going to learn a lot about Coach Sanders, as the PAC-12 isn’t the SWAC. Right now, only Stanford has worse odds to win the PAC-12. 

TCU Horned Frogs Betting Preview

TCU is coming off a 13-win season and a trip to the national title game. Sonny Dykes is back for his second season as head coach, and he has a new offensive coordinator in Kendal Briles. Chandler Morris should take over at quarterback after 27 pass attempts last season as a backup. TCU says goodbye to its top-3 rushers from last season and its top-3 receivers. Savion Williams and Jared Wiley are back after combining for more than 600 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns. Defensively, Johnny Hodges returns after leading TCU with 87 tackles, Jamoi Hodge had 4.5 sacks and Bud Clark had 5 interceptions. TCU has a lot of production to replace on the offensive side of the ball, and you have to believe some of the magic from a year ago has worn off. However, the TCU defense should remain solid, and that’s good enough to keep the Horned Frogs in the thick of the Big 12 race. However, don’t expect a return to the college football playoff for the team from Fort Worth. 

Randy’s Pick

Both Colorado and TCU have a lot of production to replace, but it’s far worse for the Buffaloes, who are also breaking in a new coaching staff. It could take Colorado some time to really get things rolling, and this isn’t an ideal season opener on the road. I don’t love laying big chalk in season openers where it’s still a feeling out process for teams, but TCU is in far better shape right now from a roster standpoint. I’ll lay the points with TCU if forced to pick.