Colorado Buffaloes (4-2) vs Stanford Cardinal (1-4)
Game Info: Friday, October 13, 2023 at 10:00 pm (Folsom Field)
Betting Odds: Colorado Buffaloes -8 -- Over/Under: 64.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Stanford Cardinal will make the trip to Boulder to face the Colorado Buffaloes in Pac-12 play this Friday from Folsom Field on ESPN. Colorado and Stanford have split the first twelve meetings, 6-6, but the Buffs have won the previous three matchups, with the most recent coming in 2020, 35-32.
Stanford Cardinal Preview
Stanford dropped to 1-4 after being blown out by Oregon in Palo Alto, 42-6. The Cardinal led after the first quarter, but the Ducks would go on to pour it on, and they’ll look to avoid a 0-4 start in conference play. The Stanford offense is scoring 19.2 ppg, while passing for 194.8 ypg, rushing for 148.8 ypg, and converting 41.3% of their third downs.
Stanford Player Notes
• Justin Lamson got the start against Oregon and struggled to move the football, passing for 106 yards, while turning 22 carries into just 32 yards. The sophomore quarterback has served an extension of the run game this season, and it’s unclear he’ll fare against Colorado.
• E.J. Smith and Casey Filkins split the backfield work, but have found little room to operate thru five games. Filkins leads the team with 191 rushing yards, while Smith has gained 160 yards on 25 carries.
• Sophomore wideout Elic Ayomanor leads Stanford in receptions (15) and receiving yards (207).
• The Stanford defense has allowed 34.6 points per game.
Colorado Buffaloes Preview
Colorado comes in at 4-2 after defeating Arizona State in Tempe by three, 27-24. The Buffaloes responded to a late rally from the Sun Devils to get back into the win column, and they’ll look to double down here against Stanford. The Colorado offense is scoring 33.0 ppg, while passing for 337.2 ypg, rushing for 78.7 ypg, and converting 44.1% of their third downs.
Colorado Player Notes
• Shedeur Sanders did just enough to get out of the desert with a victory last weekend, passing for 239 yards with a touchdown toss and rush. The junior QB has performed noticeably better in Boulder this season, so he should be in for another big game here against Stanford if need be. Sanders has passed for 2,020 yards, with 16 touchdowns to two interceptions thru six starts.
• The run game has been the Buffs Achilles heel this season, but sophomore Anthony Hankerson has surpassed the 80-yard mark in back-to-back contests, and he’s up to 214 rushing yards for the season.
• Freshman RB Dylan Edwards has been versatile out of the backfield, totaling 410 yards (217 rush, 193 rec), while catching 20 passes.
• Xavier Weaver and Jimmy Horn Jr. have been effective on the outside, with the former leading the team in receptions (43) and receiving yards (507). Horn Jr. has caught a team-high four touchdown passes, while recording 39 catches for 376 yards.
• The Colorado defense has allowed 34.1 points per game.
Stanford vs Colorado Trends
• Stanford is 2-3 against the spread, with a 2-3 O/U record.
• Colorado is 3-2-1 ATS, with a 3-3 over/under record.
• STAN has failed to cover the spread in nine of its last 10 games as a road underdog.
• CU has covered in two of three games at Folsom Field this season.
Corey’s Free Pick
Stanford’s football team isn’t in a good place right now, similar to the position Colorado was in last season, and they simply might not be able to keep up here. The questions at the quarterback position are alarming, along with their inability to use their two backs. The Cardinal may find success on the ground, but this may be a spot to lean on the hosting Buffaloes on a Friday night in Boulder. This will be their lightest matchup since an in-state brawl with Colorado State, and they should come out fired up with intentions of tacking on another victory. Let’s back Colorado this Friday for this Pac-12 matchup.
Corey’s Pick Colorado to Cover
AUTHOR: Corey Ghee
Mitch's Take...
