No matter what happens one way or another, nobody has ever accused Deion Sanders of being boring. From the day he took the job at Colorado, the Buffaloes and Sanders have seldom gone a day without making headlines. Sanders’s approach to media relations, coaching, team building, and his presence in general have invited scrutiny. Whether that scrutiny is warranted or not, he’s one of the most polarizing figures in college football.
At the end of July, Sanders announced that he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer. There were concerns all summer about whether or not he would be able to coach due to his then-undisclosed medical issues. That, paired with the roster turnover and the four NFL Draft picks, has Vegas incredibly low on what the Buffaloes can do in 2025.
Win or Lose, Colorado Has People Talking
Heading into 2025, Colorado does not have high expectations. After losing the Heisman Trophy winner as well as the starting quarterback from the last two seasons, folks are not confident that Sanders’s roster-building will hold up year-over-year. Over the last two transfer portal cycles, Colorado has taken in 76 transfers while losing 71. As a result, BetMGM set Colorado’s win total at a meager 5.5 wins.
As it turns out, bettors seem to like that line. According to BetMGM’s Betting and PR Manager, John Ewing, Colorado has been the hottest ticket in the betting markets. Ewing reported that the Buffaloes were the most individual OVER bets as well as the most individual UNDER bets, and the most money on UNDER bets. While a whole host of bettors believe the 5.5-win total is a low bar to clear, most people and their money are headed to say Sanders’s program is set to underperform in 2025.
College Football win total betting at @BetMGM
Most bet OVERs
1. Colorado 5.5
2. LSU 8.5
3. Ohio State 10.5Most bet OVERs
1. Texas Tech 8.5
2. Missouri 7.5
3. Oklahoma 7.5Most bet UNDERs
1. Colorado 5.5
2. Michigan 8.5
3. North Carolina 7.5Most bet UNDERs
1.…— John Ewing (@johnewing) August 6, 2025
Last year, Colorado finished fourth in the Big 12. It was in legitimate CFP contention until a loss to Kansas derailed everything. The last we saw of the Buffaloes, they fell in the Alamo Bowl in a rare Big 12 vs. Big 12 postseason matchup, ending the Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter era in Boulder.
2025 Outlook
This year, Colorado returns the fourth-lowest production in the Big 12. Both ESPN and our Last Word on College Football staff do not think too highly of this year’s team. According to both projections, the Buffaloes are expected to finish 10th in the 16-team conference. Only six starters return and will be led by Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter at quarterback. However, right behind him is superstar freshman and former USC commit Julian Lewis.
Sanders has been a successful coach in his short coaching career. He has only one losing season under his belt. That 2023 season was derailed by a poor offensive line, defense, and an overall lack of roster cohesion. This year’s season might be his toughest test yet with all of the turnover and off-the-field events. It looks like the best bet will be that Colorado underperforms again. That is, unless Sanders’s absence and subsequent cancer diagnosis don’t serve as a massive distraction.
Main Image: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
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