As the 2024 season creeps closer, college football odds at BetMGM are becoming increasingly relevant.
Today, I’m looking forward to a specific game from the Week 1 college football schedule that has me very excited: Colorado vs. North Dakota State.
I’ve already written at length about my projections for Colorado’s roster strengths & weaknesses, as well as how I think their overall 2024 campaign will turn out. For more on that, go check out my Colorado football preview when you’re done reading this.
Their Week 1 game against North Dakota State deserved its own article, though, so here we are.
Colorado vs. North Dakota State Odds
- Colorado -10
- Colorado -375 / North Dakota State +290
- Over/Under: 60.5
Colorado vs. North Dakota State Preview
I don’t write too many outright game previews anymore – at least not like I did when I was a 25-year-old, fresh out of JMU, working for my local paper. These days, I generally focus on broader topics, like the ups and downs of NCAA football odds markets. (Speaking of which: Heisman Trophy odds, anyone?)
Colorado vs. North Dakota State is the rare exception that I just had to write about. This game may be the most interesting Week 1 college football game in years. It’s probably the biggest contrast of cultures I can recall in my adult lifetime.
On the field, Colorado will want to throw the ball using its top playmakers at quarterback (Shedeur Sanders) and wide receiver (Travis Hunter, Jimmy Horn, et al). North Dakota State is breaking in a new coaching staff, but it’s safe to assume the Bison will continue to run power, control the clock, and wear down the opposing defensive front.
Stylistically, Colorado is all about brash and flash. NDSU is one of the most blue-collar success stories in modern football.
Colorado built its roster through national recruiting and heavy transfer portal usage. North Dakota State brings in random guys you’ve never heard from the Canadian border and develops them into NFL prospects. They’ve put seven guys in the league since 2019, with more than half going in the first or second round.
Coach Prime creates sky-high expectations, then (so far) fails to live up to them. That’s not just about how Colorado football odds turned out in 2023, mind you – he also lost the Celebration Bowl in both 2021 and 2022.
On the other hand, North Dakota State quietly trains through the offseason, drawing virtually no headlines outside of Fargo. They’ve scored nine FCS national championships and six outright FCS vs. FBS upsets since 2010.
So, when I say these two programs are polar opposites in nearly every conceivable way, that is what I’m talking about.
Colorado vs. North Dakota State might not decide a playoff berth, but it should be one of the most entertaining style clashes in many years.
Colorado vs. North Dakota State Betting Preview
The first thing bettors must consider is that NDSU safety Cole Wisniewski – arguably the best player on the Bison roster – will miss this game.
That’s bad for North Dakota State in general and particularly bad for the defensive backs room, which will face a huge test against Colorado’s elite group of receivers.
Shortly after the Wisniewski news was confirmed this week, NDSU slid from +9.5 to +10.
While the Wisniewski news isn’t good for Bison fans, the point spread movement is probably the bigger deal in handicapping circles. I already liked North Dakota State to play a competitive game with Colorado before ultimately losing. The movement in the college football spreads market to a key number like +10 turns NDSU into an even more attractive side.
It’s not my favorite bet of the week. It’s not even my favorite FCS vs. Big 12 bet of the week! But I do like NDSU at +10, and I’ve added it to my list of college football Week 1 best bets.
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