Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders celebrates a touchdown with his players in the fourth quarter against the Wyoming Cowboys at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo., Sept. 20.

The No. 24 BYU Cougars (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) and the Colorado Buffaloes (2-2, 0-1) meet Saturday at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:15 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NCAA football odds around the BYU vs. Colorado odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions for the best bets.

The Cougars picked up a 34-13 win at East Carolina last Saturday, covering as a 6.5-point favorite, not only moving to 3-0 SU and a top-25 ranking, but BYU is 3-0 against the spread (ATS) so far, too. QB Bear Bachmeier threw for 246 yards and a TD, while running for a score, and RB L.J. Martin rumbled for 101 yards and TD.

The Buffaloes topped Wyoming 37-20 as a 12.5-point favorite as the Over (46) cashed, bouncing back from a 36-20 loss at Houston in a Friday game Sept. 12. The 37 points against the Cowboys was a season high, as QB Kaidon Salter threw for 304 yards and 3 TDs, while also leading the team with 86 rushing yards and a score.

Colorado leads the all-time series 8-4-1. However, BYU has won the past 3 meetings, including a 36-14 victory in the Alamo Bowl Dec. 28. Before that, the teams hadn't met since the Freedom Bowl in Anaheim, a 20-17 win by the Cougars Dec. 29, 1988. Colorado's last win in the series was a 9-7 win in Boulder Oct. 18, 1947.

– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports

BYU at Colorado odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:15 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): BYU -250 (bet $250 to win $100) | Colorado +200 (bet $100 to win $200)
  • Against the spread: BYU -6.5 (-110) | Colorado +6.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 49.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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BYU at Colorado picks and predictions

Prediction

BYU 31, Colorado 20

Moneyline

BYU (-250) will set you back 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that's too much risk for not enough reward for a standalone wager. If you were to include the Cougars in a multi-leg parlay, that would be OK, though.

PASS for a single bet, and look to the spread instead.

Against the spread

BYU -6.5 (-110) is not in for an easy time as it heads east to take on a wounded, yet still somewhat dangerous Colorado side.

The Cougars have received steady play under center from Bachmeier, and it is good enough to get the job on the road in hostile territory.

The Buffs have 2 wins against Delaware and Wyoming, but they're 0-2 SU/ATS in 2 games against FBS opponent this season.

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Over/Under

OVER 49.5 (-110) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.

The Over has cashed in each of the past 2 games for CU, and the Buffaloes have allowed 31.5 PPG in 2 games against FBS opponents.

For the Cougars, the Under is 2-0 in 2 games against FBS opponents, so there is risk here. BYU has averaged 30.5 PPG in 2 games against Stanford and East Carolina, but it has allowed just 5.3 PPG through 3 games, so be careful.

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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: BYU Cougars at Colorado Buffaloes odds, picks and predictions

Reporting by Daniel Dobish, Sportsbook Wire / Sportsbook Wire

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