Years ago, Colin Cowherd gave a memorable rant about how the Colorado Buffaloes would never again be a successful college football program, because their home town of Boulder, CO had become a den of hippies and smoking pot (including, he implied, the football team). As if the Oregon Ducks didn’t win a Rose Bowl while indulging in the stuff.
But even though California is known for its herbal remedies as well, you won’t need to worry about the California Golden Bears doing any inhaling this weekend in Boulder. In fact, their most recent game has probably driven the team – or at least its boosters – to drink instead.
The Bears lost a 45-44 overtime heart-breaker to the Arizona Wildcats, stopping any momentum the program had after beating the heck out of the formerly top-10 Washington State Cougars the previous week. The Buffaloes lost to those same WSU Cougars 28-0 last Saturday, but are still a favorite at home to beat Cal.
Who: California Golden Bears at Colorado Buffaloes
When: Saturday, October 28th, 2 PM EST
Where: Folsom Field, Boulder, CO
Lines: Cal (+3.5) at CU (-3.5) / O/U Total: (52)
Home teams generally get 2 to 4 points on the basis of playing on their favorite turf. That means odds-makers consider these teams almost exactly evenly matched.
That may not be accurate. Colorado has lost 4 of its last 5 games, with only a win over a transitioning Oregon State team to their credit. QB Steven Montez is having a decent-if-not-prodigious season, and RB Phillip Lindsay is a terror, but beyond that the Buffs don’t have a lot to offer. The defense is porous and inconsistent.
Meanwhile, Cal is on the verge of turning a corner and has an exciting offense led by the arm of sophomore QB Ross Bowers. The defensive backfield is talented, and despite the Bears also losing 4 of their last 5, they came within a whisker of winning 2 extremely tough Pac-12 games in a row in the last 2 weeks.
We’re liking the Bears to cover. However, a (3.5) spread means that a money line bet may be your best option. Don’t sweat a few points at the end which may turn out to be insignificant to the teams on the field – for instance, if Cal is losing by 4 with 1:00 left, they won’t kick a FG just to help you out. A bet on the Bears to win SU carries at least a 60% chance of paying off on Saturday afternoon.