North Dakota State vs Colorado Odds: Coach Prime’s Time in College Football Week 1 Lines

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

3 minute read

North Dakota State vs Colorado odds promise to attract plenty of action in a Thursday night meeting. That's despite the fact that the Buffaloes aren't ranked and the Bison are an FCS outfit.

So why is there inordinate action on odds for North Dakota State vs. Colorado? Simply put, it's Deion Sanders. Coach Prime and his Buffs are a lightning rod for public bettors.

Here's everything you need to know about North Dakota State vs. Colorado odds: opening lines, spreads and betting trends on the game, as multiple oddsmakers provide insights on college football Week 1 odds and action. Check back regularly for updates and use our BetMGM bonus code to get the most out of your action.

College Football Odds for Week 1

North Dakota State vs Colorado Odds

• Opening point spread: Colorado -7.5
• Opening moneyline: Colorado -300/North Dakota State +240
• Opening total: Over/Under 58.5 points scored
• Time: 8 p.m. ET Thursday (ESPN)

UPDATE 5 P.M. ET THURSDAY: The Buffaloes peaked at -11 early this afternoon and are now -10.5 in The SuperBook's odds for North Dakota State vs. Colorado. On Tuesday, the Buffs opened -10, and the line hit its low point of -9 early Wednesday.

Since then, the number made stops at -9.5/-10/-10.5/-11, before returning to -10.5.

"There are more straight bets on North Dakota State spread, but there's more money on Colorado. There's more parlay liability on the Buffs, as well," SuperBook risk manager Casey Degnon said. "As we stand right now, we need the Buffs to win but not cover. We have some NDSU moneyline liability."

The total has been a major mover today. It opened at 60 Tuesday and got to 61 Wednesday. But over the past few hours, the number plunged to 55.5, with stops all along the way.

"We still have more tickets and more money on the Over," Degnon said.

UPDATE 4 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: A day-plus out from kickoff, the Buffaloes are up to -10 in TwinSpires Sportsbook's North Dakota State vs Colorado odds market. TwinSpires opened Colorado -9 on Aug. 22 and had short stop at -9.5 Tuesday before advancing to -10.

Action is heavy to Colorado on the spread and the moneyline. The Buffs are drawing 86% of early spread tickets/84% of early spread money. On the moneyline, it's practically all Colorado, which opened -355 and is up to -435, with NDSU +310.

"The public is backing Colorado like it's free money. North Dakota State will be a massive need for us," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said.

UPDATE 8 A.M. ET MONDAY: Coach Sanders' first year at Colorado got out to a surprising 3-0 SU start (2-1 ATS). Quarterback Shedeur Sanders – the coach's son – and two-way standout Travis Hunter captured the nation's attention.

But the Buffaloes won just once more all season, finishing a disappointing 4-8 SU/7-4-1 ATS.

North Dakota State is a perennial FCS title contender, with a record nine championships at that level. The Bison went 11-4 SU in 2023, reaching the FCS semifinals before losing to Montana 31-29 in double overtime.

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BetMGM Nevada – the sportsbook's Las Vegas operation – opened Colorado -7.5 in late May. The line moved to Buffs -8.5 in mid-June, then got to the current -9.5 on Aug. 17.

"The public betting masses are on Colorado. The biggest bet is $3,300," BetMGM Nevada's Scott Shelton said of early action. "It's 2/1 tickets and 10/1 money on Colorado."

The total is up a point to 59.5. Shelton said at BetMGM Nevada, there's little action so far on the total or the moneyline in North Dakota State vs Colorado odds.

Nationwide at BetMGM, action isn't as lopsided, but Deion & Co. are still well-played. In digital betting (mobile/online), the Buffs are seeing 62% of early spread tickets/76% of early spread money. And bettors are on the Over, which is netting 77% of tickets/91% of money.

Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson