High Expectations in Boulder
Colorado is set to return to the Big 12 football with high expectations for 2024. Coach Deion Sanders is preparing to capitalize on a significant influx of talent with 41 transfers, and six high school signees joining the squad. This reinforcement provides an opportunity to improve upon last season’s 4-8 record and establish a stronger presence in the Big 12.
The release of the 2024 Big 12 football schedule highlights several pivotal matchups that could determine the success of the Buffs this season. The non-conference schedule is equally critical featuring challenging games testing Colorado’s readiness.
The 2024 season betting odds reflect the highest interest in this matchup with 82% of bets favoring Colorado. According to BetMGM, despite Colorado being favored in points, the narrow margin indicates a level of respect for North Dakota States’ capabilities. North Dakota State, although an FCS team, has had a storied history of success having won nine national championships since 2011.
Even with the departure of head coach Matt Entz, and uncertainty surrounding starting quarterback Cam Miller’s potential return for a graduate year, North Dakota State still remains a strong opponent under the new head coach Tom Polasek. Polasek brings a wealth of experience and a winning mentality to North Dakota State.
As the season approaches, coach Prime and the Buffs will need to channel their motivation and talent to navigate both their non-conference and Big 12 schedules. This is a very good football team and if you’re not careful this is a team that definitely could pull an upset – as they had done it before back in 2016. This is a team you don’t want to overlook but everybody including the sports bettors is leaning towards Colorado. I feel like Colorado should pull away if they come to play and they ready to go
The Rocky Mountains Showdown
Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell takes shots at Shedeur Sanders and Coach Prime. Norvell is very angry at Sanders for personal reasons. Most apparent after watching the rivalry Colorado State vs Colorado football game, you can clearly see there was something very personal that CSU did not like about Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffs.
A Nebraska writer, Oliver Vanderport, broke the silence and spoke about the issue. He believes (without concrete evidence) former Cornhuskers offensive coordinator Jay Norvell is angry toward coach Prime because the Colorado head coach has seemingly skipped steps to become a Power 4 head coach while Norvell had to take the long route.
Norvell claimed it seems clear that the two just do not like each other. At least part of the reason for that could be that Norvell has been working very hard to climb the coaching ladder, Vanderport believes Coach Prime was just given the job just to be given to him. He also went on to say that despite posting a 4-8 record, coach Prime routinely gets referenced for NFL coaching jobs.
College football is a business and it gleams when Coach Prime is in the spotlight. It’s been bad blood since Norvell made things personal with Coach Prime since the viral Shedeur Sanders touchdown in Boulder. It produced some of the most entertaining new bites from the 2023 season.
Ahead of the 2023 Rocky Mountains Showdown, Norvell questioned if Sanders was raised right. That was the opening of this rivalry. As well as the controversial Henry Blackburn hit, Norwell claimed not to see anything wrong with that play. This football game is one you will not want to miss. Away, at Colorado State, it’s one of those games I have marked on my calendar. Hopefully, this year’s matchup is played within the lines and a cleaner game than last season’s game in Boulder.
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