Colorado vs. Washington State point spread: Picking Buffaloes vs. Cougars

Week 12 of the college football season is filled with several season-defining matchups. One of those matchups features two Pac-12 programs fighting to become bowl-eligible this season. In a late Friday night match, the Colorado Buffaloes and head coach Deion Sanders travel north to Pullman, WA, and face off against the Washington State Cougars.

On3’s Andy Staples and recruiting guru Josh Newberg took a deep dive into this game, discussing what they think of the line and giving their predictions for the matchup.

“So Colorado, losers of five of six. Washington State, losers of six in a row. Both teams need to win out to become bowl-eligible. I’d say Colorado’s path is actually easier because Washington State has the Apple Cup after this game,” opened Staples.

While the Cougars’ final matchup of the season is against the top team in the Pac-12 this season, the Buffaloes’ final opponent of 2023 is no slouch either. Washington and Washington Sstate will square off on Nov 25 at 3 p.m. CT for the Apple Cup. In comparison, Colorado will go head to head with the suffocating defense of the top 25-ranked Utah Utes on the same day.

But the matchups are nearly two weeks down the line. So what does Staples make of the line between Colorado and Washington State, where the Cougars currently sit at 4.5 point favorites? According to Staples, the Cougars struggle with getting out of their own way, which makes him lean towards the Buffaloes.

“So Washington State is a 4.5 favorite in this game. As Jake Dickert, their coach, said, ‘They just keep finding different and new ways to shoot themselves in the foot.’ I was actually impressed by Colorado against Arizona. I don’t think they quit. I’m going to take Colorado to pull the upset in this game. I’m not taking the money line, give me the points. Give me Colorado + 4.5.”

Newberg, On3’s recruiting expert, was in lockstep with Staples pick of Colorado pulling off the upset on Friday. However, he was willing to take it a step further and take the point spread in this matchup, which comes in at 64.5.

“I like Colorado straight up,” said Newberg. “I don’t need the points, but give me the points. I think that Shedeur Sanders and this offense are just gonna outscore Washington State. I feel like the defense, while we know that they’re gonna give up points, I think they’re going to get a few stops here. And just the talent of Shedeur Sanders and some of those playmakers on offense. I think it’ll put them over the top. I like Colorado to win this one.”