Oddsmakers project CU and CSU to win the same amount of games in 2025

College football is just around the corner, but fans of the sport in Colorado won’t get to see the 94th edition of the Rocky Mountain showdown between CU and CSU this year. The advantage there probably goes to the Rams because of the talent discrepancy between the two rosters, but it was still an enjoyable game to watch for fans all around the country because of the hatred the two programs have for each other.

While the fans won’t get to see an even matchup like they did in 2023 when the entire nation was up until the wee hours of the night watching the teams duke it out in double overtime, the oddsmakers have put out an even matchup between the two in terms of season win totals. Per BetMGM Sportsbook, both the Buffs and the Rams have their win total lines set at 6.5, with the over sitting at +140 odds and the under at -165 odds.

Colorado’s odds to make the College Football Playoff are set at +1,300, with Colorado State’s at +6,600. That’s the difference between playing or not playing in a power conference.

Why are the win totals the same for CU and CSU? Coach Prime’s Buffs obviously have more talent, but once again, they play in a much tougher conference than Jay Norvell’s Rams. To start the season, CU’s strength of schedule ranks 54th in the FBS, while CSU’s is just 96th.

Colorado’s Schedule

The Buffs have four guaranteed wins on the schedule: Delaware, Houston, Wyoming and Arizona. They then have a handful of toss-up games against Georgia Tech, BYU, TCU, Iowa State, Utah, West Virginia (this should be a victory, but playing in Morgantown is no joke), Arizona State and Kansas State. Every single one of those games is a toss-up as of now due to them being either at home or on the road along with the fact that CU is going to look a lot different without Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders this season.

Six wins is probably a safe mark for the black and gold, but for them to get over 6.5 and towards last year’s regular season mark of nine, they’re going to have to pull off some magic against the league’s top teams.

Colorado State’s Schedule

The Rams will still have Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi leading the way under center as they look to build off an 8-5 campaign highlighted by a berth in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl. Justin Marshall, the team’s second-best rusher from a year ago, will also be back. While they won’t have Tory Horton on the outside this year, he missed much of last season with a groin injury, so that offense knows a thing or two abut what it’s like to play without him.

Boise State can most likely be chalked down as a loss along with the Week 1 game against Washington and the late-season contest with UNLV. Washington State will also be a challenge, and traveling to Air Force when the weather gets cold is a matchup that not many teams want a part of. UTSA and Fresno State are favorable matchups being at home, San Diego State should be a winnable game, New Mexico shouldn’t pose a challenge and Northern Colorado at home is one that Norvell’s squad shouldn’t lose.

Wyoming and Hawaii on the road are big challenges, but are the two games that could push the Rams over the hump of 6.5 wins.

The mark of 6.5 makes sense for both squads. With a handful of toss-up games on the schedule for both programs, it could be easy for them to win five games, but wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone if they won eight or nine games. While there’s not a head-to-head matchup this season (the next game is in 2029 in Fort Collins), the oddsmakers have them all evened up in the projected win column to start the season.

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