Deion Sanders and Colorado have consistently gotten disrespected this offseason. After an impressive five-win improvement from year one to year two, you would think Coach Prime and his team would earn the benefit of the doubt. But in the wake of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter going pro, many expect the Buffaloes to take a significant step back in 2025. Those people are setting themselves up for disappointment.
Replacing Sanders and Hunter is hard. For Hunter, it's outright impossible. But one thing remains true for Colorado in 2025: the depth at every position is better now than it has been in the last couple of seasons. The Buffs are better around the margins. Coach Prime has continued infusing talent into this roster.
The Boulder faithful know that. The rest of the world is going to learn it on Friday night.
Colorado opens the season at home, albeit against a formidable opponent. Brent Key's Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have become a popular ACC darkhorse selection. They will give a serious challenge to Colorado.
The current betting odds list Georgia Tech as a 4.5-point road favorite (odds pulled on Wednesday evening). Most pundits aren't giving Colorado a chance. But that's why they play the games.
Bold Predictions for Colorado against Georgia Tech
Colorado rushes for more than 150 yards
Colorado finished dead last in the FBS in rushing yards per game last season. That's going to change in a big way in 2025. With a dual-threat QB in Kaidon Salter, an experienced offensive line, and a talented stable of running backs, the Buffaloes are going to take a major leap forward.
Last season, Colorado didn't eclipse 150 rushing yards in a single game. They only went over the century mark four times. The offense was 100% reliant on Shedeur Sanders last season. They lived and died with the vertical passing attack.
The offense will be a lot more balanced this year, perhaps even more slanted toward the ground game. That gets started in a big way against Georgia Tech.
Dekalon Taylor hits a big play
The guy they call Trackhawk - Dekalon Taylor - is a walking explosive play. He might be the best-kept secret in the country. The secret is about to be out.
Colorado hit a home run when they landed Taylor in the Transfer Portal from Incarnate Word. Now, Taylor is prepared to hit some home runs for Coach Prime.
Whether it's in the backfield, splitting out wide, or perhaps returning a kick, get ready for Taylor to announce himself to the college football world on Friday night.
Colorado wins the game outright
How's that for bold? Colorado is being severely undervalued across the country. Sanders does his best work when people don't see him coming.
In my record prediction earlier this month, I picked Georgia Tech to win this game. I've changed my mind. Folsom Field is going to be a raucous environment, and will be much more of a factor than some Georgia Tech players want to believe.
I don't believe the Yellow Jackets will be all that prepared for what they are going to see from the Colorado offense. It's going to be effectively a brand new system.
This will be a fourth-quarter game, and will likely come down to a handful of plays in crunch time. I think Colorado will be the team that makes them when it matters most to pull out a massive Week 1 win.