The Colorado Buffaloes (2-4, 0-3) are in the midst of a four-game losing streak, but they showed a solid offense in last weekend's 27-24 loss to No. 11 Utah, giving the program hope the tide is about to turn.
The schedule doesn't necessarily support that belief, as a string of tough games extends into Week 8 when the Buffs travel to Stillwater to face an Oklahoma State team that has spent most of the year in the top 25 and has one of college football's top offenses. The Cowboys have averaged over 500 yards per game, and quarterback Drew Mestemaker averages nearly 330 passing yards per game.
To pull off the road upset, the Buffaloes will need their best defensive performance of the year and, most likely, to force multiple Mestemaker mistakes. Offensively, offensive coordinator Brennan Marion is hoping he found something last week that can translate into a more complete performance against Oklahoma State. Isaac Wilson and the Buffs offense must be ready for a shootout if CU's defense struggles to contain the Cowboys' passing attack.
With several key matchups laid out, how do ESPN's analytics models, SP+ and FPI, see the Week 8 contest playing out?
ESPN's Football Power Index projects Colorado vs. Oklahoma State
Matchup Predictor: Oklahoma State 78.3% win chance, Colorado 21.7%
SP+ Comparison: Oklahoma State (No. 27 nationally), Colorado (No. 80 nationally)
- Offense ranking: Oklahoma State (No. 16), Colorado (No. 99)
- Defense ranking: Oklahoma State (No. 46), Colorado (No. 48)
FPI Comparison: Colorado No. 64 (1.0), Oklahoma State No. 40 (9.0)
The Buffaloes and the Cowboys kick off at 5 p.m. MT on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. FS1 will televise the game nationally.
Watch Colorado vs. Oklahoma State on FS1
Colorado football vs. Oklahoma State betting odds, money line, over/under
Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of Oct. 23
- Point spread: Oklahoma State by 13.5
- Money line: Colorado +450, Oklahoma State -630
- Over/Under: 56.5
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: ESPN predicts Colorado vs. Oklahoma State football's Week 8 matchup
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