Vegas Play of the Day: Colorado State vs. Colorado

By Case Keefer (contact)

Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015 | 2 a.m.

We've reset the Play of the Day with fresh bankrolls and turned it into a yearly competition. Our three sports writers have restarted with $10,000 bankrolls to continue using on odds from the South Point.

Colorado State plus-3 vs. Colorado: $330 to win $300

The wrong team is taking points in this one. It’s a small sample of only two games, obviously, but Colorado State is statistically more efficient than its in-state rival all over the field.

For example, the Rams are gaining 6.4 yards per play to the Buffaloes’ 5.3. Colorado State is only surrendering 3.8 yards per play to Colorado’s 4.9.

Their schedules aren’t polarized enough to dismiss the discrepancy. Colorado State stomped one weakling, Savannah State, and lost in overtime to a legitimate opponent, Minnesota. Colorado faced two teams it should have beaten, at Hawaii and hosting Massachusetts, but only managed a win against the latter.

Both teams return most of their starters from last year when Colorado State defeated Colorado 31-17 at this same neutral site of Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver. Colorado State has gone 10-4 straight-up, 9-5 against the spread since that meeting with Colorado sitting at 3-10 straight-up, 7-6 against the spread.

I know which team I’d rather back.

Current Standings (as of July 1): Brewer (13-11, $9,940), Bern (9-10, $9,905), Keefer (8-18, $4,911)

Lifetime Records: 2014-15 champion Bern (91-84-1), Keefer (92-100-2), Brewer (82-98-2)

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.