The Colorado Buffaloes are a team on the rise, and much of the credit goes to two rising stars: quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way phenom Travis Hunter. While a 4-8 record last season may not seem impressive, it was a significant improvement from the previous year’s single win. Experts and fans alike are pointing to Shedeur and Hunter as the driving force behind this turnaround.

Meanwhile, both players are also generating serious Heisman Trophy hype and are projected as top picks in next year’s NFL Draft.  Adding fuel to the fire, analyst Ryan Koenigsberg recently highlighted the impact Shedeur and Hunter are having on championship bets for the Buffaloes.

On a recent DNVR Sports podcast, the hosts Jake and Ryan Koenigsberg discussed the changing odds for Buffaloes. “Colorado’s odds to win the college football playoff. They were +20,000 to win it and it’s now moved to +12,500. Nearly cut in half” noted Jake. He added that a surprising 4.5% of bets are now on Colorado to win the championship.

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Koenigsberg then chimed in saying, “I assume that they have caught wind of the fact that Colorado upgraded their roster in almost every category.” He also credited Shedeur and Hunter for the increase in bets stating, “They also understand that two legitimate Heisman candidates are on the team..If the team around them is better then good things could really happen.”

There’s no doubt that Hunter and Shedeur are a formidable duo. Their friendly competition for the Heisman Trophy could make for some incredible plays this season and fans are pumped those. But the Buffs still need to focus on the whole season, not just the hype.

Shedeur Sanders’ solo act won’t win it all

While quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter are generating excitement for the Colorado Buffaloes, they can’t win it all alone. The team brought in 40 new players to bolster the roster, but experts are still unsure about the overall strength.

While betting odds have improved, ESPN’s Football Power Index seems to throw a reality check. FPI ranks the Buffs at 36th with a projected 6.3 wins this year. Though better than last year, but far from championship territory.

To win the title, Shedeur Sanders needs a stronger offense around him and this year’s Big 12 conference is notably known for high-powered offenses, putting pressure on the Buffs. While they’re favored against teams like Colorado State and Nebraska, victories against Kansas and Utah seem less likely. Thus with a 50/50 shot at reaching their full potential, all eyes are on Shedeur & Co. to see if they can overcome the odds and bring a championship home to Boulder.