BYU at Colorado: Buffs seek upset in Big 12 nightcap as Kaidon Salter shines
Colorado looks to rebound at home against No. 25 BYU as quarterback Kaidon Salter mulls a breakout performance; betting markets tilt with the Buffaloes underdogs.
No. 25 BYU will play at Colorado in a late-night Big 12 conference showdown Saturday, with the Cougars riding a 3-0 start into the unbeaten rivalry tone of a marquee night game. BYU’s wins have come against Portland State, Stanford and ECU, a sequence that has helped the Cougars crack the top 25 but also sparked questions about the strength of the schedule. Colorado, meanwhile, is 2-2 after four games, alternating wins and losses against Georgia Tech, Delaware, Houston and Wyoming, and entering the weekend seeking to demonstrate it can compete with a ranked foe.
Colorado has navigated a quarterback carousel this season, a reflection of the coaching staff’s early search for consistency. Kaidon Salter stepped in for last week’s Wyoming game and delivered a performance that suggested a higher ceiling for the Buffaloes’ offense. Salter’s showing has revived optimism in Boulder that Colorado can keep pace with a more established BYU squad, provided the offense can translate that potential into sustained drive efficiency. On the BYU side, Bear Bachmeier has steered the Cougars through their 3-0 stretch, a favorable run that has them positioned for Big 12 play after opening the schedule against relatively lighter opposition.
The betting market has reflected the discrepancy between the two teams’ start points. BYU opened as a favorite, with the spread around 6.5 points on FanDuel, a line that suggested a belief BYU would fare well against a Colorado team still trying to find its footing. In recent days, some observers have talked up Colorado as a potential late-season sympathetic underdog with value, citing Salter’s ability to elevate the offense and the Buffs’ home-field potential. The practical takeaway for bettors is that Colorado remains an underdog in the eyes of oddsmakers, but the line offers a clear opportunity if the Buffs can sustain momentum from Salter’s performance and reduce mission-critical mistakes.
If Salter can replicate or build on last week’s Wyoming performance, Colorado has a realistic path to staying within striking distance or even pulling the upset. The Buffs would need clean pocket presence for Salter, effective run support to offset BYU’s pressure schemes, and a disciplined defensive effort to blunt the Cougars’ dynamic playmakers. BYU, for its part, will look to exploit Colorado’s inconsistent moments and take advantage of any turnover opportunities to extend drives and control the tempo.
Both programs enter the game with significant implications for their early-season narratives. A win would underscore BYU’s readiness for the Big 12 challenge and keep the Cougars on track to build depth in the conference race. A Colorado victory would not only end the win-loss seesaw but also inject momentum into Sanders’ rebuilding project, raising questions about how quickly the Buffaloes can translate their talent into consistent results in the league.
For BYU, Bachmeier’s leadership and the Cougars’ scheming will be under the spotlight as they confront a Colorado defense that, despite the inconsistencies, has shown flashes of improvement. The Saturday night kickoff is poised to deliver a clear barometer of where both programs stand as they transition into the heat of conference play.
