Vegas Play of the Day: Colorado vs. Colorado State

By Case Keefer (contact)

Friday, Sept. 1, 2017 | 10:51 a.m.

We’ve entered the fourth season of the annual South Point-lined Play of the Day competition, effective July 1.

Starting bankrolls have reset to $10,000, with the maximum bet being to win $1,000 and the minimum wager $300. Ray Brewer won back-to-back titles in the 2015-2016 and 2016-17 seasons, after Taylor Bern prevailed in 2014-2015.

Colorado State plus-3.5 vs. Colorado: $330 to win $300

As long as Colorado State doesn’t have an issue locking in for a second big game in six days, it should roll tonight at Sports Authority Field in Denver. The Rams are a better team than the Buffaloes.

Yes, Colorado wrecked Colorado State 44-7 as 8-point favorites in this game a year ago. To re-emphasize, that was a year ago, and too much is being put into what these teams were last season.

This season holds far more importance, and Colorado State has much more experience back from a team that improved steadily as the year went on. Colorado is breaking in an almost entirely new defense, and although it’s more seasoned on offense, sophomore quarterback Steven Montez steps in as a new starter.

In the likely case of a shootout, Colorado State has an edge behind senior Nick Stevens, who threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns in a 58-27 win as 4-point favorites over Oregon State on Saturday. The only concern here is the Rams are stiff or not as motivated as that season-opener in their new $200 million on-campus stadium.

Playing against an archrival in Colorado makes it harder to believe that Colorado State will suffer a letdown. Coaches also say teams often improve drastically in their second game.

There’s more than enough here to fire a small bet on the Rams.

Current Standings: Keefer (6-3-1, $11,115), Granger (5-6, $11,095), Grimala (2-1, $10,595), Brewer (6-6, $9,160)

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