Delaware vs. Colorado Picks and Prediction, September 6, 2025
On Saturday, the Delaware Blue Hens will pay a visit to the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field in Week 2 NCAAF action. The Buffs are 23.5-point spread favorites, and the game total is 50 points scored. Kickoff from Boulder, CO, is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.
This Delaware vs. Colorado prediction highlights a Blue Hens team that beat Delaware State in its season opener against a Buffaloes squad that dropped its Week 1 CFB clash to Georgia Tech. Saturday's matchup is the first-ever meeting between Delaware and Colorado on the gridiron.
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Delaware is in its first FBS season
Delaware (1-0 SU, 0-1 ATS, and 0-1 O/U) went 9-2 last year in its final season as an FCS program. After three years of success under head coach Ryan Carty (26-11 record), the Blue Hens hope to make a statement as a member of Conference USA. It was a sensible move for Delaware, as most of its former rivals — UMass, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Old Dominion, and James Madison — made the move to the FBS ranks in recent years. The Blue Hens are experienced and deep, but time will tell if the step up in competition will be a challenge for the returning players.
Delaware won 35-17 at home last week, taking down the in-state Hornets in their first game coached by former NFL star DeSean Jackson. The teams were scoreless after the first quarter, but the Blue Hens took a 14-3 lead into halftime and never looked back. Delaware outgained Delaware State 409-349, passing for 272 and rushing for 137. The Hens also forced two turnovers on defense.
The Delaware offensive line is strong, with several veterans returning and a couple of talented backups easing into the starting lineup this season. Starting quarterback Zach Marker went down with a knee injury on the Hens' second drive last week, a setback that could cost him the remainder of the season. Marker was the returning starter, but dual-threat junior Nick Minicucci was effective in his place (251 passing yards, 44 rushing yards, and four total TDs). The team's top targets from last year are gone, but senior WRs Jake Thaw (seven receptions for 92 yards and one TD) and Kyre Duplessis (seven receptions for 89 yards and one TD) impressed against Delaware State. The Blue Hens also must replace leading rusher Marcus Yarns, but Jo’Nathan Silver and Saeed St. Fleur are vets.
The Delaware defense is talented, especially at linebacker and safety. LBs Gavin Moul and Dillon Trainer combined for 125 tackles in 2024, despite Trainer's absence in several games. KT Seay, Haasan Manning, and Jason Scott are talented DBs who bring stability to the secondary. The Hens lost their top pass rushers from last year's squad, but they should be stout against the run. Delaware returns 77 percent of its returning production from last season's defense, including 17 of the 22 players with double-digit tackles. While some coaching staffs may have added more players from the transfer portal, Carty is banking on experience being a difference-maker in the program's move to the FBS.
Delaware Blue Hens Football Injury Report: QB Zach Marker (knee) is out for Saturday's game versus Colorado.
Colorado is searching for a bounce-back win
Colorado (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS, and 0-1 O/U) compiled a 9-4 record in 2024, Deion Sanders' second season as head coach. CB/WR Travis Hunter won the Heisman trophy, and QB Shedeur Sanders passed for over 4,000 yards and 37 touchdowns, putting the Buffaloes in the spotlight. Still, early losses to Nebraska and Kansas State stung, and a late loss to Kansas prevented them from making the College Football Playoff. With both of its stars off to the NFL and only six returning starters, the team will attract less attention, but that may not be the worst thing.
Colorado fell 27-20 to Georgia Tech in its 2025 opener, as Yellow Jackets QB Haynes King (299 total yards and three TDs) scampered for a 45-yard touchdown with a little over a minute remaining to seal the game. The visitors dominated on the ground (320 rushing yards), helping them outgain the Buffs 463-305 in total yards. Georgia Tech did its best to give away the game early, turning it over on its first three possessions, but King settled them down in the second quarter.
Colorado OC Pat Shurmur is back to call plays, but bettors should anticipate a new-look Buffaloes attack in 2025. With Sanders at QB, they were reliant on his read-making ability, as he didn't run with the football. That will change this season, however, as Liberty transfer QB Kaidon Salter is a true dual-threat (nearly 6,000 passing yards and over 2,000 rushing yards in the last three years). After ranking last nationally in rushing yards last season, the running backs will be coached by the NFL Hall-of-Famer Marshall Faulk. There are talented options in the Buffaloes' backfield, but the offensive line — four transfers and veteran left tackle Jordan Seaton — needs to make significant strides. Colorado will also be starting from scratch at receiver.
The Buffaloes' defense should be strong in the trenches this year after leading the Big 12 in sacks and tackles for loss in 2024. They are big up front, with transfers Jehiem Oatis and Tavian Coleman coming in from the transfer portal. The linebackers will bring the pressure in the 4-2-5 hybrid scheme, with Samuel Okunlola and Arden Walker being two names to watch. Hunter, Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, and Shilo Sanders are gone, but the secondary still looks solid. The unit is mostly new — only three starters return — as Sanders added plenty of talent from the transfer portal. The defense's improvement was a catalyst for the team's success last year, but with so many new faces, it's unclear whether they can build off of 2024.
Colorado Buffaloes Football Injury Report: RB Dallan Hayden (hand) and WR Omarion Miller (hamstring) are questionable for Saturday's Week 2 NCAAF game against Delaware.
Delaware vs. Colorado Pick
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Rob Vincilleti | +1,778.00 |
| 2 |  Ross Benjamin | +1,716.00 |
| 3 |  David Hess | +1,326.00 |
| 4 |  Earle Sports Bets | +1,323.00 |
| 5 |  Dan Kaiser | +1,071.00 |
Spread Pick for Delaware vs. Colorado
- Colorado -23.5 (5 Units)
The Buffaloes were outplayed last week, but they have upside. There will be a scary level of talent discrepancy on Saturday, as Delaware is an FBS team with FCS-quality players, having opted to retain much of their roster after moving up to the "big boy" level this season. There's also the intimidation factor of playing against a team coached by former NFL superstars. In short, I expect the Blue Hens to get stomped. Colorado has challenged itself in non-conference play, but this matchup is more traditional for a Power-5 conference team.
Delaware will fall behind early and barely compete, as the Buffs will be eager to make a statement. Colorado is brimming with talent; even some of its backups are potential pros. That includes five-star freshman QB Julian Lewis, who will make his debut at some point in Saturday's game. I don't see the Buffaloes easing up or the Blue Hens keeping it close. Bet on Colorado to cover the spread!
Over/Under Pick for Delaware vs. Colorado
- Under 50 (4 Units)
Blue Hens QB Minicucci was solid enough when he was forced into action last week, but is he prepared to be the full-time starter following Marker's injury? Georgia Tech's King was a serious dual-threat, but Delaware's QB isn't anywhere near as electric. The visitors have a new-look receiving group, and their top rusher from last year's squad is also gone. Their FCS-level backups who moved into the starting rotation this season aren't likely to storm Folsom Field and put many points on the scoreboard in Week 2. While I feel confident the Buffaloes will win big, a lack of scoring from the Blue Hens will keep the total under 50 points.
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