Free NCAA Pick: Colorado vs. Houston Odds
Looking for Colorado Buffaloes vs. Houston Cougars free NCAA Week 3 picks & NCAA odds? NCAA betting sees the Buffaloes taking on the Cougars on Friday, September 12 at TDECU Stadium (TX). Cappers Picks provides complimentary NCAA handicapping picks all season long including all NCAA Week 3 games so stay tuned for more FREE NCAA predictions like this Colorado Houston matchup.
2025 NCAAF Handicapping Analysis: Week 3
(1-1) Colorado Buffaloes vs. Houston Cougars (2-0)
Date: Friday, September 12, 2025
Time: 7:30PM
Venue: TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas
Week 3 ATS Betting Lines: (BET NOW!) Colorado +4.5 | Houston -4.5
Week 3 CFB Moneyline Odds: Colorado +170 | Houston -140
College Football Betting Total: O/U 44.5
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Things are definitely different for the Buffs this season. That happens when you lose your starting quarterback and a Heisman winner and they are not the same person.
This will truly be a test of how Sanders has built a program, as those aforementioned players were his son and someone he looked at that way.
Both of these teams are hoping they can get their Big 12 seasons off to a good start. Houston has some solid numbers against weak competition.
This is the first time that these programs are playing each other as rivals in the Big 12.
Colorado Buffaloes
Kaidon Salter was brought in as an experienced option to replace Shedeur Sanders at quarterback. Four years at Liberty gave him a lot of experience but he might have peaked a couple of seasons ago.
Last week Ryan Staub, who has been with Colorado since Deion got there, got some run, and he looked good. There is debate as to who gives them the best option to win with.
Whoever it is, is also dealing with a lighter deck of skill position players to spread the ball around to. Travis Hunter was awesome last season, and it helped that there was good talent around him. This year, the receiver group is much less certain.
The Colorado defense looked better last week, but taking on an FCS opponent has to be considered with the evaluation. Since Deion has been in Boulder, that has consistently been the weaker side of the program.
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Colorado Buffaloes Stats
Colorado is 1-1 and has scored a total of 51 points through its first two games while allowing 34 points to opponents. Offensively, the Buffaloes have a balanced attack, with 426 yards passing and 230 yards rushing. The team’s rushing offense is led by Simeon Price and Micah Welch, who have 85 and 78 rushing yards, respectively.
The passing game is headed by Kaidon Salter and Ryan Staub, with Salter having 261 passing yards and Staub 157 yards.
The Buffaloes’ top receiver is Sincere Brown, who has accumulated 120 receiving yards and a touchdown on four receptions. DeKalon Taylor has also been a significant contributor, with 87 receiving yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions.
Houston Cougars
Two wins and two covers tell us the Cougars are exceeding expetations, even if the competition has been pretty light. They have a great chance at getting off to a 4-0 start, which would be great considering they have not won more than four games since joining the Big 12.
Connor Weigman is a familiar name in Texas football. He was a highy rated recruit who never quite popped at A&M, but there is talent there. Maybe getting out of the SEC is what he needs to be more successful.
The defensive numbers look elite early. Facing Colorado will be their stiffest test yet but it is still unclear if this a good defense, or one that has played bad teams, maybe both. Right now they are top five in total points and yards allowed.
Houston Cougars Stats
Houston is 2-0 having started their season with two dominant victories: a 27-0 shutout against Stephen F. Austin and a 35-9 win over Rice. The Cougars’ offense has been efficient, averaging 35 points per game and accumulating 392 total yards per game.
This offensive production has been balanced between the run and the pass, with 204 rushing yards and 188 passing yards per game.
Quarterback Conner Weigman, has led the aerial attack, completing 30 of 46 passes for 347 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Houston Cougars have been exceptional, holding opponents to just 9 points per game and 228 total yards per game. In their season opener against Stephen F. Austin, the defense held the Lumberjacks to a total of just 144 yards.
The defense is anchored by a strong secondary, with players like safety Kentrell Webb providing experience and playmaking ability. The Cougars have also been effective at creating turnovers, with a turnover margin of +2.0 per game.
Colorado Buffaloes vs. Houston Cougars Betting Trends
- Colorado is 9-3-1 ATS in its last 13 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Colorado’s last 5 games.
- Colorado is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games.
- Colorado is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road.
- Houston is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 16 of Houston’s last 20 games.
- Houston is 7-13 SU in its last 20 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Houston’s last 7 games at home.
4* Free 2025 Week 3 NCAA Betting Prediction: Houston over 26.5 Points +125
I didn’t like the dead number of -4.5 with Houston so I was looking for some alternate ways to play this game.
Meanwhile, Fresno State is rebuilding under Matt Entz with QB EJ Warner leading a new-look unit, but Kansas’ defense is vulnerable enough to give them scoring chances.
The way I see it the Colorado defense is the weakest unit on the field, and if the Cougars are going to win they will do so scoring with some ease.
Colorado might also be a little conservative if they start a new QB or he may make some mistakes in his first action as a starter.
Houston definitely feels a lot more dependable heading into Friday night.
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Colorado Buffaloes vs. Houston Cougars NCAA Betting Tweet Of The Day
Get ready for the Friday Night @Big12Conference opener vs. Colorado with the @SeatGeek Game Primer!#GoCoogs | @TDECU pic.twitter.com/5gNo9EYUYM
— Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) September 11, 2025
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