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

Expert game picks and predictions for Colorado vs. Nebraska as the Week 2 college football schedule kicks off on Saturday

Well hello, Colorado. Coming into Deion Sanders' first season as head coach of the Buffaloes program, there was plenty of skepticism and trepidation about thinking this team could do anything right away. Those predictions went in the trash, for one week at least, after the Buffs offense exploded for 45 points in an epic upset of ranked TCU despite being three-touchdown underdogs. Now comes the next challenge, in the home opener against Nebraska in college football's Week 2 action on Saturday.

Shedeur Sanders had the best day of any Colorado quarterback ever, with 510 yards passing in his first game for the program, adding four touchdown passes, while two-way player Travis Hunter had an interception and 119 yards receiving, including two near-touchdown plays. Freshman back Dylan Edwards scored four total touchdowns, including the game-winner on a late fourth down.

Nebraska has a new head coach of its own this season, as Matt Rhule stepped into the role hoping he can bring some of the same turnaround skill he used to help programs like Temple and Baylor, although his debut was yet another close loss for the Huskers. Rhule's team had a 10-3 lead over Minnesota with just over 2 minutes left in regulation before the Gophers rattled off 10 points including a field goal as time expired.

What do the experts think of this matchup? Let's see how the College Football Power Index computer prediction model projects the game.

Colorado vs. Nebraska picks, predictions

Colorado vs. Nebraska picks, predictions / USA Today Images

Nebraska odds: The index is actually siding with the Cornhuskers, who have the 59.0 percent chance to win the game on the road, according to the computer model that simulates games 20,000 times to pick winners.

Colorado odds: That leaves the Buffaloes with a 41.0 percent shot to defend home field and move to 2-0 on the year, according to the index predictors.

Point spread: The oddsmakers take a different view, naming Colorado as the 2.5 point favorites against Nebraska, according to the lines at SI Sportsbook. That's a marked change after opening up as 7-point underdogs to NU before Saturday's win.

Total: 58.5 points

Moneyline: CU -150 | NU +120

Nebraska predictions: The index rates the Cornhuskers as the No. 51 team in the nation on the latest 133 football rankings, projected to be 3.3 points better than an average opponent, and estimated to win 5.6 games this season.

Colorado predictions: FPI jumped the Buffaloes up 31 spots this week on the 133 poll, coming in at No. 71 overall, estimated to win 4.7 games this season, and be 2.0 points worse than an average team on a neutral field.

Colorado vs. Nebraska schedule

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

College Football Power Index

Football Power Index (FPI) college football rankings and computer prediction model are a measure of team strength that predicts a team’s future performance.

Rankings and scores predictions are based on 20,000 simulations of a team’s season, using a combination of analytics, including scores to date, quality of opponents, and a team’s schedule.

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College football rankings

According to AP top 25 poll

1. Georgia (58)
2. Michigan (2)
3. Alabama
4. Florida State (3)
5. Ohio State
6. USC
7. Penn State
8. Washington
9. Tennessee
10. Notre Dame
11. Texas
12. Utah
13. Oregon
14. LSU
15. Kansas State
16. Oregon State
17. North Carolina
18. Oklahoma
19. Wisconsin
20. Ole Miss
21. Duke
22. Colorado
23. Texas A&M
24. Tulane
25. Clemson

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