Arizona vs. Colorado odds: Early point spread released on Wildcats, Buffaloes

The opening line is in as Colorado is set to host Arizona next weekend with the Wildcats red hot in Pac-12 play while the Buffaloes just lost their third straight game.

According to FanDuel, Arizona opens as a 9.5-point favorite on the road vs. Colorado. Meanwhile, the over/under has been set at 59.5. For the money-line, the Buffaloes are +315 to win while Arizona set at -410.

Specifically, the Buffaloes just lost to Oregon State in a hard-fought ball game that ended in a one-possession defeat. The previous week, CU lost to another ranked Pac-12 squad in UCLA, which came on the heels of a mind-boggling 46-43 loss to Stanford which featured a blown 29-0 lead by the Buffs.

On the year, Colorado is now 4-5 and has games against Arizona at home and then Utah and Washington State on the road. It’s hard to imagine the Buffaloes dispatching Utah and that Kyle Whittingham defense on the road, so games against the Wildcats and Cougars are likely must-wins if they want to qualify for a bowl game.

For Arizona, a promising season under Jedd Fisch is only getting better. The ‘Cats just won their third straight game and their second in a row over a ranked team, beating UCLA 27-10 at home a week after toppling Oregon State in Arizona Stadium as well — all with backup QB Noah Fifita, who has come on as strong as any quarterback in the conference of late.

Those wins make Arizona 6-3 and certainly have a path to nine wins. Colorado is reeling, then a home game vs. Utah will be a challenge but is a possible win, before AZ rounds out the regular season with in the Territorial Cup against lowly Pac-12 performers Arizona State.

Deion Sanders reveals feelings after third straight loss

“First thing (thankful for) another tremendous opportunity, glorify the Lord, came up short, once again,” Sanders said after the loss to Oregon State. “This is hard. The reason it’s so hard is because you know you’re capable of doing better, playing bette,  performing better, calling better games, coaching better on my behalf and you are coming up short when you have enough to get the job done. And it’s painful. It hurts myself, the team and all the coaches, the fans, some of you as well that actually care.”

Colorado did start to rally in the fourth quarter during the 26-19 loss to cut the deficit to just one possession.But those points were too little and too late.

“They played a valued game,” Sanders said. “I love their coach. I love what he stands for, I love what he’s about, I love the way he’s resurrected that entire program. But our kids played hard. They really did. And I love the fact that they didn’t have any quit in him that they rallied at the end. Gave a heck of an effort. 

“We just wished that we could do that in the midst of the game for the second, third and fourth quarter with consistency. And we haven’t found that level of consistency as of yet and that’s what’s truly disheartening.”