Colorado vs. Nebraska game preview, prediction: Who wins, and why?

What to expect as Colorado and Nebraska renew their rivalry in this Week 2 college football game with updated predictions

Alright, Colorado: you have our attention. After a thrilling and apparently unforeseen upset victory over TCU in the season opener, Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes return to Boulder for their first home engagement, renewing what has been a heated rivalry in the past as Nebraska comes to town in college football's Week 2 action.

Shedeur Sanders needed exactly one game to make history, throwing for a school record 510 yards in his debut, while freshman back Dylan Edwards accounted for four touchdowns, and two-player Travis Hunter almost had two more as a receiver while he intercepted a critical pass in scoring position playing on defense.

What do the Buffs have for an encore? We'll see against a Nebraska side bringing on a new program under first-year coach Matt Rhule and a class of notable transfers, including quarterback Jeff Sims, but the Huskers are coming off a loss in the opener, another close one for a team that has been on the wrong side of one-score games.

What can you expect from the matchup? Here's what you should watch for when Colorado and Nebraska square off, along with our Week 2 game predictions.

Colorado vs. Nebraska preview, prediction

Colorado vs. Nebraska predictions / USA Today Images

How to watch

When: Sat., Sept. 9
Time: 11 a.m. CT, 10 a.m. MT
TV: Fox network
Stream: fuboTV (Try for free)

Colorado vs. Nebraska game odds

Line: Colorado -2.5 Track it live
Total: 58.5 points
Moneyline: CU -150 | NU +120
FPI pick: Nebraska 58.7%

Related: Colorado vs. Nebraska picks, predictions, Week 2 college football odds, lines

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What to watch for

Nebraska and Colorado renew their rivalry / USA Today Images

1. The Big Three. In addition to Sanders' record-breaking 510 yard day last week, Hunter finished with 11 catches for 119 yards and two near-touchdown grabs, while Edwards had 135 yards receiving with 3 scores, a rushing TD, and caught the game-winner on a long fourth down when Colorado was trailing late. Led by this trio, the Buffs have a speed advantage against the Huskers' tacklers, can get in space very easily, and can rack up serious yards after the catch. Speed in space is a tough combo to beat if you can't match it and the Cornhuskers have a way to go proving they can.

2. Turnovers. Nebraska's inability to hold onto the ball late last week in a game it was leading at Minnesota was costly. Running back Anthony Grant fumbled in the fourth quarter and Sims threw three interceptions, something of a trend in the quarterback's career. In 25 starts at Ga. Tech, he had 23 interceptions and lost 10 fumbles. Mistakes like that have helped Nebraska go 2-14 in one-score games since the start of 2021. The Huskers need to assert themselves and control the game from start to finish.

3. Battle at the line. Rhule has placed a heavy premium on improving the Cornhuskers' physicality and cohesion on the line of scrimmage in the hopes that they can run the ball with power and consistency, especially on third down. In the opener, Nebraska ran for 181 yards while posting a solid 4.9 ypc average while allowing the Gophers to run for 55. That's also what Colorado ran for last week, while allowing TCU to gain 262 yards on the ground. Nebraska has an early advantage there.

Colorado vs. Nebraska prediction

Watch what happens on third down. Colorado was a solid 9 of 15 in the opener on offense while Nebraska's defense allowed Minnesota to go 8 for 17 to move the chains and 2 for 2 on fourth downs, including a touchdown. If the Cornhuskers can't keep up on the money downs, it'll be a long day.

Colorado may struggle defending the run throughout the game, but it has more than enough firepower to make up for it on the other side when on the attack. If the Gophers gave Nebraska as much trouble as they did throwing the football, then the Buffaloes certainly will. Just relying on pace and speed may not be the full winning strategy for a whole season, but it's enough for right now against this opponent.

College Football HQ picks...

• Colorado wins 37-26
• Covers the spread
• And hits the over

Related: Colorado vs. Nebraska score prediction by college football computer

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