Colorado vs. Oregon game preview, prediction

What to expect as Colorado and Oregon meet in this Week 4 college football game with our updated predictions

Off to a surprising 3-0 start, Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes face a stiff conference test on the road as No. 19 Colorado squares off against No. 10 Oregon in college football's Week 4 action on Saturday.

Colorado comes in without star two-way player Travis Hunter, who could miss up to three games, the toughest on the Buffaloes' schedule, after absorbing a hard hit last week, but Sanders' roster boasts of other top-flight skill options. The question is how well Colorado can hold up against quality opposition, behind a defense that is allowing an average of 460.3 yards per game and surrendering 30.3 points.

Oregon covers 578 yards each time out and is posting 58 points per game behind the play of dynamic dual threat quarterback Bo Nix and a pair of solid lines. And although the scoring average is somewhat top-heavy with an 81-7 win over Portland State, the Ducks scored 38 points at Texas Tech and 55 against Hawai'i last weekend.

Rankings: AP | Coaches | ESPN

What can you expect from the matchup? Here's what you should watch for as Colorado and Oregon square off along with our latest Week 4 game predictions.

Colorado vs. Oregon preview, prediction

Colorado vs. Oregon picks / USA Today Images

How to watch

When: Sat., Sept. 23
Time: 1:30 p.m. MT, 12:30 p.m. PT
TV: ABC network
Stream live: fuboTV (Try for free)

Colorado vs. Oregon odds

Courtesy of SI Sportsbook

Line: Oregon -21.5 (Track it)
Total: 69.5 points
Moneyline: Ore -1205 | CU +600
FPI pick: Oregon 93.9% to win

What to watch for

Colorado vs. Oregon highlights Week 4 / USA Today Images

1. Let's get physical. Colorado boasts top-flight skill players who can get chunk plays on a semi-regular basis, but the absence of a consistent rushing attack and a credible pass protection strategy is concerning. So far, the team has made up for it by exploiting Shedeur Sanders' mobility, moving the pocket to escape pressure and emphasizing the medium passing game until the bigger plays open up. That will work at times against Oregon, but not all day, as the Ducks front seven pursuit group can ultimately contain that threat. Colorado is 127th nationally when running the ball and only 5 other teams in the country allow more sacks per game. Superior tacklers of Oregon's caliber will get through this alignment.

2. Turnover battle. Both these teams are among the best at taking the football away. Oregon ranks 3rd and Colorado is 5th nationally at plus-2.5 and plus-2 turnover margin, respectively, per game. The Buffaloes have lived off takeaways so far, ranking No. 1 in college football with 10, but the Ducks are tops in the country with no turnovers at all. Colorado's defense could find itself on the field longer than it wants to be if Oregon is as careful with the ball as it has been.

3. Ducks on the ground. Oregon comes into the game with the 17th most productive rushing attack in college football and will line up against a Colorado run defense that is among the worst, ranking No. 119 nationally by allowing 195.3 yards per game on the ground. The Buffaloes allowed TCU and Nebraska to rip off some long runs and are up against an Oregon line that is coming together ahead of schedule opening lanes for skilled backs like Bucky Irving, Jordan James, and Noah Whittington, who combined average 8 yards per touch. By running the ball with authority, the Ducks are able to spread out the back seven with a battery of passes from Bo Nix, an uber-productive 78% thrower good for 9.1 yards per pass.

Colorado vs. Oregon prediction

Colorado has no problem making this a shootout and, given the state of the roster and its strengths, Deion Sanders would probably prefer it. The Buffaloes can move the quarterback out of the pocket and have receivers who will find room to run after the catch against the Ducks' back seven defenders.

But the Ducks can adjust by overpowering the pocket, closing down the outside options and clogging the interior gaps, forcing Sanders to rush his throws and affect his accuracy as the game wears on. 

And they have the targets to fill in the coverage gap left by Travis Hunter's absence, plus the pieces to control the line of scrimmage down the stretch when it matters and move the chains with the far superior ground game.

College Football HQ predicts...

• Oregon wins 39-24
• Doesn't cover the spread
• And hits the under

More: Colorado vs. Oregon score prediction by college football computer model

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