Joel Klatt picks Colorado to win, North Dakota State to cover spread

Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt went all in on his alma mater Colorado to win but not cover the spread Thursday night against North Dakota State.

Now, Klatt said he isn’t on the Buffaloes just because he played there. No, he broke down myriad reasons why Colorado will be victorious and should be highly competitive in 2024.

Klatt broke down Colorado’s two stars as the biggest reason they’ll come away victorious.

“Colorado is a 9.5 point favorite … and they will be much improved from what they were a year ago,” Klatt said on his show. “ I think there’s reason to be high on Colorado. Namely, I think they’ve got one of, if not the best quarterback in their conference, in Shedeur Sanders, maybe the best quarterback in the country, maybe the top pick in the draft.

“They’ve also got a guy that I think can be in a lot of ways, should be considered the best non-quarterback in college football, and that’s Travis Hunter, because of what he does in a variety of different ways … So his impact is going to be giant.”

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North Dakota State is no pushover though and Colorado could have its hands full.

“They won nine of the last 13 FCS national championships,” Klatt said. “They lost in the semifinals a year ago, and this is a team that’s going to be really good. This is going to be an incredibly tough game for Colorado. This is not a pushover whatsoever, and I believe it’s going to be a very close game. North Dakota Sate was fourth in the FCS in rushing last year with over 235 total yards (per game). So this rebuilt defensive line for Colorado will be tested right away.

“Their quarterback, the Bison’s quarterback, Cam Miller, he started 25 games in his career, so he’s an experienced guy. Now, they lost their two best wide receivers, but that run game largely comes back.”

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The biggest key though is Colorado’s offensive line in pass protection and opening up running lanes for new RB Dallan Hayden.

“Last year, Colorado gave up 52 sacks,” Klatt said. “52, that’s an astonishing amount. If they give up 30 sacks, which, by the way, is still not good, but 30 sacks is 22 fewer sacks. That’s 22 more opportunities to push the ball down the field, that’s 22 more opportunities to convert on third down (and) that’s 22 more opportunities to get the ball into the red zone and potentially score. That translates, in my estimation, into victories. That’s what I’ll be watching for …

“9.5 point favorite is too much for Colorado. I believe that they win a close game, fairly high scoring, at least for week 1, 35-28, Colorado wins the game. North Dakota State covers.”