After blowing a 28-0 halftime lead and losing 46-43 to the Stanford Cardinal, I'm not sure if having a bye week was good or bad for the Colorado Buffaloes. You can only stew about a loss for so long (in this case it's been 15 days) before putting it behind you and moving on to the next challenge.
I'm sure the practice time will certainly help, but not getting after it the following week could lead to a sluggish start. Against UCLA and their outstanding defense, a sluggish start is something the Buffaloes can ill-afford if they want to be competitive in this game.
The college football odds have tabbed the Bruins as 17.5-point favorites, but I've got my eyes on three player props that I can almost guarantee won't be as bad as the Buffaloes defense.
Let's jump right into my free college football picks and predictions for Colorado vs. UCLA on Saturday, October 28.
For more analysis on this game, also check out our Colorado vs UCLA predictions!
Colorado vs UCLA Week 9 prop picks
- Loya anytime touchdown
- Sanders Under 319.5 passing yards
- Hankerson Under 28.5 rushing yards
Picks made on October 26 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Read full analysis of each pick.
Colorado vs UCLA Week 9 odds
Best college football bonuses
All Users
50% SGP boost for Colorado/UCLA
e.g. +200 BOOSTS to +300! Claim Now
All Users
50% boost for 3+ leg CFB parlay/SGP
e.g. +200 BOOSTS to +300! Claim Now
Eligible USA locations only. Also, see our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2023.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Best Colorado vs UCLA Week 9 prop picks
Prop bet #1: Loving Loya
When playing UCLA, there is no secret about what the Bruins like to do offensively. They prefer to run the ball with Carson Steele and they do it extremely well. They rank 22nd in rushing yards per game with 215.1, but the glue that holds it all together is the passing attack that keeps the defense honest.
UCLA ranks 78th in the country putting up 248.9 yards per game but the Bruins have not yet played a defense as bad as Colorado.
Logan Loya is the safety valve receiver for whoever gets the start under center on Saturday vs. the Buffaloes. He's hauled in at least four passes in four straight games, and he's found the endzone in two of those contests.
The Buffaloes defense ranks 260th in terms of passing yards allowed per game, and in a game that's likely to favor the Bruins, I can't help but think Loya finds the endzone against that porous defense.
Logan Loya prop: Anytime touchdown (-125 at FanDuel)
Prop bet #2: Passing game woes
For the first three weeks of the season, Shedeur Sanders looked like he was going to take the college football world by storm. He was climbing up the Heisman Trophy odds boards and was racking up stats like no tomorrow.
Since then, he's been a mixed bag. Against teams with good defenses, he hasn't thrown for more than 250 yards. Against teams with terrible stop units, he's looked like the second coming of Patrick Mahomes.
This week, against UCLA, he'll face the best defense he's faced all year and I'm not expecting him to excel.
Sanders is good at extending plays and being decisive with his reads. However, UCLA is one of the best teams in the country at disguising coverage and limiting yards after the catch.
Even with this game expected to be lopsided in favor of the Bruins and forcing Sanders to throw more, I don't see him completing enough passes to hit the 320 passing yards mark.
Shedeur Sanders prop: Under 319.5 passing yards (-114 at FanDuel)
Prop bet #3: Limited opportunity
Now, I know what you're thinking. If I took Sanders' Under passing yards, then how can we bet Anthony Hankerson to go Under 28.5 rushing yards?
Well, for as good as UCLA is at defending the pass, the Bruins are even better at stopping the run. They rank third in the country, giving up just 68.6 rushing yards, and Hankerson doesn't exactly get double-digit carries every game.
He's got two games all year with double-digit carries, and he's gone under this 28.5 total in four of the seven games. The Buffaloes are a pass-first team, and running Hankerson at all is going to be like bashing your head into a brick wall over and over.
Deion Sanders is smarter than that, and I expect to see Hankerson limited to pass-blocking duty.
Anthony Hankerson prop: Under 28.5 rushing yards (-114 at FanDuel)
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Covers may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or betting site.
Kentucky: Mobile sports betting is live!
Check out the best Kentucky sportsbook promos, with a number of odds boosts and offers available!
Kentucky sports betting launched online wagering on September 28 — review our list of the best Kentucky sports betting apps for making your first online bets in the Bluegrass State!
21+ and present in KY. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the 
to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
