NCAA Football
2024-12-28 - BYU Cougars at Colorado Buffaloes
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : College Football Alamo Bowl
Saturday 28th December 2024 - Scheduled 7:30pm
12:30am (British Time)
Preview
It is a rare situation where two teams from the same Conference will be playing one another in a Bowl Game, although this is a meeting between two Big 12 teams that did not see each other in the regular season.
Both the BYU Cougars (10-2) and Colorado Buffaloes (9-3) will have some regret at the end of the regular season.
They both finished with 7-2 records in the Big 12, but the tie-breakers worked against the Cougars and Buffaloes which meant they missed out on the Conference Championship Game despite having the same record as Arizona State and Iowa State. Missing out meant losing any opportunity of playing in the expanded College Football Playoff, but both schools were much improved from 2023 and that has to be encouraging for what is to come.
Colorado fans will be sad to see some hugely talented players leaving after this Bowl Game, although they do have an opportunity to witness Travis Hunter and Shadeur Sanders in the Buffaloes colours one more time.
Potential top NFL Draft Picks have opted out of playing Bowl Games in previous years and in other games being played in 2024, but both Hunter and Sanders are happy to play even if they are being Mock Drafted to go in the top three next year.
Everything is going to come down to Shadeur Sanders on the Offensive side of the ball and that is because the Colorado Offensive Line have not been able to establish the run with any consistency. The Quarter Back has not been slowed down by having to step back and throw from all kinds of down and distance and even this Cougars Secondary is expecting to be given a significant examination.
Interceptions could be the problem for Shadeur Sanders, but this may also be a game in which he is given a bit more time to make his plays. That has been rare for him over the last couple of years, and Sanders is certainly capable of making all of the right reads when he is given the time to scan the field.
There is always going to be a strong focus on a team's Offensive firepower, especially here in Colorado, but the Defensive unit have played well for much of the season and finished the regular season in positive form.
While the Cougars would love to establish the run, the Buffaloes Defensive Line have been strong at the Line of Scrimmage and that will shift the pressure onto Jake Retzlaff.
The BYU Quarter Back had almost 2800 passing yards with 20 Touchdowns so will feel he can lead the Cougars where needed, but Retzlaff will have to be aware of the pass rush pressure that can be generated by Colorado.
This is also a Colorado Secondary that has played the pass pretty well as the regular season wound down and Travis Hunter will want to show off his two-way capabilities. Jake Retzlaff will just have to be aware of the ball-hawking Secondary that have been able to turn the momentum in favour of the Buffaloes, and that could be key to the outcome of this Bowl Game involving two Conference rivals.
Both teams may feel they can move the ball on the other, but the Buffaloes look to have a slight edge on both sides of the ball. That can see some of their top names sign off with a Bowl win and Colorado may also be ready to show off some of the younger players that are going to lead the team forward when Sanders and Hunter are operating in the NFL next season.
Prediction
Lay the points with the favourite in this Bowl Game.
The Pick :
Colorado Buffaloes 38-31 BYU Cougars
