Colorado vs. TCU odds, line: 2023 college football picks, Week 1 Deion Sanders predictions from proven model
The Colorado Buffaloes and TCU Horned Frogs will meet in a non-conference season opener in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday. It's the debut for Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, who engineered the one of the largest roster overhauls in college football history this offseason. The Buffaloes, who finished 1-8 in the Pac-12 and 1-11 overall, are entering their final season in the Pac-12 before making the move back to the Big 12 Conference next year. Colorado was an original member of the league when the Big 12 was formed in 1996. TCU, which played for the national championship in 2022, was 9-0 in the Big 12 and 13-2 overall last season. The Horned Frogs joined the conference in 2012, a year after Colorado left for the Pac-12.
Kickoff from Amon G. Carter Stadium is set for noon ET. TCU averaged 38.8 points per game last season, while Colorado averaged 15.4. The Horned Frogs are favored by 20.5 points in the latest Colorado vs. TCU odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 63.5. Before making any TCU vs. Colorado picks, be sure to check out the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $2,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Colorado vs. TCU and just revealed its picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's CFB picks. Here are several college football odds and trends for TCU vs. Colorado:
- Colorado vs. TCU spread: TCU -20.5
- Colorado vs. TCU over/under: 63.5 points
- Colorado vs. TCU money line: Colorado +664, TCU -1047
- COL: The Buffaloes have gone over the total in nine of their last 11 games
- TCU: The Horned Frogs were 10-4-1 ATS last season
- Colorado vs. TCU picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why TCU can cover
Despite the loss of several talented players to graduation, the Horned Frogs get a boost on offense with a number of key transfers, including junior wide receiver JoJo Earle and junior running back Trey Sanders, both who played at Alabama a year ago. Earle has 24 career receptions for 303 yards (12.6 average) and two touchdowns. He saw action in six games last season, catching three passes for 38 yards and a score in a 30-6 win over No. 11 Mississippi State. He also scored a touchdown in a 49-26 win at No. 20 Arkansas, catching a 22-yard score.
In three seasons at Alabama, Sanders finished with 528 yards rushing on 116 carries (4.6 average) and three touchdowns. Last season, he was limited to 14 carries for 80 yards (5.7 average) and one TD. His best year was in 2021, when he rushed 72 times for 314 yards (4.4 average) and two touchdowns, including one against Miami in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game, a 44-13 Crimson Tide win. He also had six receptions for 55 yards. See which team to pick here.
Why Colorado can cover
Despite that, the Horned Frogs are not a lock to cover the Colorado vs. TCU spread. That's because the Buffaloes are building from the ground up behind Sanders, the former NFL superstar and Jackson State coach. The Buffaloes feature 87 newcomers on their 2023 roster, including 68 scholarship players. Just nine scholarship and 25 overall players return from 2022. Sanders is 27-6 as a collegiate head coach, including a 23-3 record in his final two seasons at Jackson State with two SWAC championships and two appearances in the Celebration Bowl.
Junior transfer Shedeur Sanders takes over as the team's starting quarterback. Last year at Jackson State, he completed 341 of 483 passes (70.6%) for 3,732 yards and 40 touchdowns. He was intercepted six times and had a rating of 160.4. In a 41-34 overtime loss to North Carolina Central in the Celebration Bowl, he completed 30 of 40 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns. He threw for four or more touchdowns in six games. See which team to pick here.
How to make Colorado vs. TCU picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 56 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits more than 50% of the time. You can only see the model picks at SportsLine.
