The Colorado Buffaloes take on the TCU Horned Frogs in Fort Worth, Texas. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
TCU is favored by -13.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -550. The total is set at 58 points.
Here’s my Colorado vs. TCU predictions and college football picks for Saturday, October 4, 2025.
Colorado vs TCU Prediction
- Colorado vs. TCU Pick: TCU -13.5
My TCU vs. Colorado best bet is on the Horned Frogs spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Colorado vs TCU Odds
| Colorado Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+13.5 -110 | 58 -110o / -110u | +400 |
| TCU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-13.5 -110 | 58 -110o / -110u | -550 |
- Colorado vs TCU point spread: Colorado +13.5
- Colorado vs TCU over/under: 58 points
- Colorado vs TCU moneyline: Colorado +400, TCU -550
Colorado vs TCU Preview
Colorado Buffaloes Betting Preview: Searching for Stability in Post-Shedeur Era
This week, Colorado returns to where the Coach Prime era began when it upset TCU as a three-touchdown underdog.
While the 2023 season fizzled, last year Colorado enjoyed its first nine-win season since 2016 and second in the last 20 years. However, with Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter off to the NFL, the Buffs are off to another rocky start.
For Deion Sanders, replacing his son has already proven to be a difficult task. Highly touted freshman Julian Lewis, Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter and incumbent redshirt sophomore Ryan Staub have already seen game action.
Lewis looks headed for a redshirt year while Salter and Staub have alternated starts, with Salter likely getting the call this week.
Salter lit up Wyoming, but he's failed to throw for 200 yards in three of his four appearances thus far. Still, he remains a dynamic threat on the ground, and he's scored a rushing touchdown in each of his four first games. He's +115 for an anytime touchdown this week.
Despite the inclusion of Salter's legs to the offense, Colorado ranks just 104th in Rushing Success Rate. Running the ball remains a challenge in the Coach Prime era. Despite improvement on the offensive line over the last few years, Colorado is still tied for 100th in Havoc Allowed.
Defensively, Colorado has regressed significantly after major improvement last season. It ranks 121st in Passing Success Rate Allowed, 131st in Rushing Success Rate and 103rd in Explosiveness Allowed.
Colorado has had some success creating Havoc, as it ranks 52nd on the year. However, it won't have an advantage in havoc on either side of the ball this week.
TCU Horned Frogs Betting Preview: Bounce-Back Mode is Fully on
When Texas Tech and Utah met a couple of weeks ago, many deemed it a matchup of the Big 12's best teams and/or a preview of the conference championship.
However, as TCU beat rival SMU to improve to 3-0, I thought about its path in the Big 12, which appeared favorable if it could get by defending Big 12 champion Arizona State.
Unfortunately for the Horned Frogs, they squandered a 17-0 lead and fell 27-24, which was a bad beat for many.
They return home this week to host the Buffaloes and may get starting running back Kevorian Barnes back. The UTSA transfer ran for over 100 yards and a touchdown in the season-opening win over North Carolina, but suffered an injury against Abilene Christian.
Barnes returned to practice in a limited capacity this week and is listed as questionable.
Without him, TCU has lacked an explosive element in its backfield, but it still ranks eighth in Rushing Success Rate.
Wide receiver Eric McAlister exploded for eight receptions, 254 yards and three touchdowns against SMU. However, he was injured in the first quarter against Arizona State and was limited for the remainder of the game. He's listed as questionable this week as well.
Quarterback Josh Hoover would love him available, but Jordan Dwyer has already proven he can be a capable WR1 as well. The Idaho transfer already has two games with at least 85 yards and a touchdown this season.
If McAlister is out this week, I would expect tight end DJ Rogers to get more targets coming off a career-high four catches for 60 yards last week.
Last week was a rarity for Hoover, as he didn't throw a touchdown for the first time in nine games. He did extend his streak of 21 games with 200+ passing yards and is averaging 310.5 passing yards per game with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions this season.
TCU ranks 30th in Passing Success Rate and sixth in Passing Explosiveness this season.
Colorado vs TCU Pick, Betting Analysis
Dating back to last season, TCU has covered its last six games when favored by 14 points or less.
It has averaged 37 points and won by 21.5 points per game.
TCU should have a lot of success offensively this week. It may get healthier if Barnes returns and McAlister goes as well.
Additionally, TCU ranks 10th in Havoc Allowed and third in Havoc, so it should control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
At -13.5, I'll be backing the Frogs at home this week.
Pick: TCU -13.5
