Best Bets and Predictions for Oregon vs. Colorado on Friday
The game between Oregon and Colorado on Friday night is expected to be a blowout, but that doesn't mean you can't make it interesting to watch at home. Yes, we're talking about sports gambling, and with adapting laws around the United States, it's becoming increasingly more popular, and widely discussed in sports circles.
So are you looking to wager a few dollars on the Ducks vs. Buffs, but don't know where to allocate that capital? No worries, we've got you covered.
Things to Know About the Matchup
Oregon has widely dominated this "rivalry" this century, but a single game in 2016 has Ducks fans on edge every time Colorado gets mentioned. While the Oregon program was looking to get back relevance under Mark Helfrich after their day in the sun at the CFP, it was the 41-38 loss at home against the Buffs that sent them into a nose-dive, resulting in the worst season in years at Oregon, resulting in Helfrich getting fired after falling to a 4-8 record.
Key Injuries
At long last for the Ducks, several of their key players returned to the field last week after injuries riddled the first five games of the season. WRs Juwan Johnson, Brenden Schooler, and Mycah Pittman came back, while lineman Jake Hanson returned to the field as well. Unfortunately, DE Gus Cumberlander saw his season end on Saturday with a leg injury, but luckily for the Ducks, they have freshman standout Kayvon Thibodeaux set to excel at that position.
For Colorado, there are several players who are banged up, and some of them might not be cleared in time for Friday's game. Wide receivers Laviska Shenault and K.D. Nixon are considered to be day-to-day and star defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson is also questionable to play.
Score Prediction
Oregon 49, Colorado 24
Against the Spread
There's a good chance that the Ducks are going to win this one, but do you feel confident enough to say they'll win by at least 21 points? The current spread of Oregon -21 is pretty damning, and I tend to stay away from lines that big, as there are endless reasons as to why it might not hit. For instance, the Ducks were favored by three scores last week against Cal as well, and they only won by ten points. If you are inclined to bet the spread this week, I would lead towards the Buffs because of QB Steven Montez's ability to do everything for Colorado, but there's more value to be had elsewhere.
Moneyline
Simple, who will win the game? With the Ducks favored so greatly, they will return a lot less of a profit if you bet on them, rather than should the Buffs win and you backed them. At -1200, a $100 bet on Oregon would return just $8 of profit... We think Oregon will win, but that's way too little of a return on your dollar to bet the moneyline.
Over/Under
Once again with the Ducks, this is where I believe the money is made. Both Oregon and Colorado have dynamic offenses who are highly capable of putting points on the board. Even though the Buffs could be missing some of their best weapons on offense, and the Ducks defense is elite, I think that Montez will be able to work his way around the field and get into the end zone a couple of times. On a similar note, the Ducks have a few of their best receivers back on the field and with a week to knock the rust off. It could serve as a major coming-out party for the Oregon offense.
