Texas vs. Colorado State: Final odds and prediction

To open up the 2024 regular season, No. 4 Texas football hosts the Colorado State Rams and head coach Jay Norvell at home at DKR during Labor Day Weekend. Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian will face former UT assistant coach Norvell in what could be a hot and muggy contest at DKR in Austin on Saturday afternoon.

Sarkisian and the Longhorns get an opportunity to build confidence and momentum entering the highly anticipated Week 2 matchup on the road in Ann Arbor on Sep. 7 against the defending National Champion Michigan Wolverines.

Colorado State is a proficient air raid offense that can test Texas's defense and make sure the secondary is ready for the task ahead in Week 2 against Michigan and for SEC play in a few weeks.

Here's a look at the final betting odds and game prediction as No. 4 Texas gets set to host Colorado State at home at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX, on Aug. 31 at 2:30 p.m. CT.

Texas football vs. Colorado State odds

Texas is a 32.5-point favorite against Colorado State roughly 16 hours before kickoff in Week 1. And the Longhorns are favored in the money line (-30000) over the Rams (+4000), per FanDuel. The over/under is 59.5 points.

The betting line has moved back one point in Texas's favor after it had moved down in the middle of this week to 31.5 points for the spread favoring the Longhorns.

Texas football vs. Colorado State prediction

Texas should be able to pull away from Colorado State in the first half of this game if the defense comes out ready to go and the offense shows its speed and firepower to set the tone in the first quarter. Colorado State doesn't have the speed on defense necessary to keep pace with the Longhorns' receiving corps with guys like Isaiah Bond and Johntay Cook II possibly starting in Week 1.

The Longhorns also hold a significant size and athleticism advantage in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Texas's offensive and defensive lines both have on average at least a 20-pound edge over Colorado State at the line of scrimmage.

ESPN's matchup predictor gives the Longhorns a 97.9 percent chance of beating Colorado State on Aug. 31.

I'm sticking with ESPN and Vegas here to give Texas the convincing victory over Colorado State in the season opener on Saturday afternoon to get a boost in momentum before they head up to Ann Arbor to face Michigan next weekend.

Final score prediction: Texas-45, Colorado State-14

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