2023 CFB odds: Bettors jumping on Colorado, Deion Sanders bandwagon
The hiring of Deion Sanders has created a palpable buzz in Colorado. Not only are Colorado Buffaloes fans excited about the hiring, but so are bettors.
From a player's perspective, Colorado has brought in more than 35 players in the transfer portal since Sanders came over from Jackson State.
From a betting perspective, gamblers are definitely jumping in on the hype as Colorado has seen heavy action to win the national championship at one sportsbook.
Let's jump into Primetime's impact on the odds.
The Buffaloes have the sixth-most bets on them to win the College Football Playoff at BetMGM, making Colorado the book's biggest liability.
Every sportsbook is different though, as the Buffs have yet to attract any big-money bets at FOX Bet.
FOX Bet Trading Operations Senior Manager Dylan Brossman said FOX Bet's Colorado site has seen a bump in bets since Sanders was hired.
"We understand that Deion is a big name and is a compelling story, but oddsmakers and bettors alike have been hesitant to believe in Colorado’s instant success next season," Brossman said.
Bettors are putting some money down on the Buffaloes despite the following:
- The Buffaloes are coming off a 1-11 season
- Colorado last had a winning non-COVID season in … 2016
- The Buffaloes have had one winning record over the past 16 non-COVID seasons
Here are some odds on the Buffaloes next season at FOX Bet:
Buffaloes regular-season win total: 3.5
Over 3.5 wins: +140 (bet $10 to win $24 total)
Under 3.5 wins: -175 (bet $10 to win $15.71 total)
Buffaloes win Pac-12 Conference championship
+10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Buffaloes win CFP title
+30000 (bet $10 to win $3,010 total)
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Joel Klatt talked about Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes selling out their first spring game.
[RELATED: Should returning Buffaloes feel blindsided by roster overhaul]
The Pac-12 Conference had six teams finish in the Top 25 last season – Washington at No. 8, Utah at No. 10, USC at No. 12, Oregon at No. 15, Oregon State at No. 17 and UCLA at No. 21.
Of course, the Buffaloes have had 47 players enter the portal – including quarterback J.T. Shrout, who started nine games – since the spring transfer window opened on April 15.
Remember, Sanders urged returning players to "hop in that portal" during a meeting with the team because he was bringing in his guys. The biggest name is his son Shedeur Sanders, a quarterback who won the Jerry Rice Award (top Football Championship Subdivision freshman) after the 2021 season for the Tigers.
Sanders threw for 6,963 yards and 70 touchdowns in two seasons playing for his father at Jackson State and has been anointed Colorado's QB1.
Since FOX Sports began tracking odds in 2001, the team with the longest preseason title odds that ended up winning the national championship was Auburn in 2010 (+5000).
TCU's run to the CFP championship game last season may give bettors an incentive to back an unheralded team. Why not Deion's Buffaloes?
"Colorado will certainly be a team of interest next season with ‘Prime Time’ as the coach, but it will take more than one season for the team to become national champions," Brossman said. "After finishing dead last in the conference last year and winning just one game, a more reasonable goal would be for Coach Sanders to take the Buffaloes back to a bowl game in Year 1."
So are you betting on the Buffaloes in their first season with Sanders in charge? Head over to FOX Bet to get in on the action.
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