Venue & Broadcast
Location: TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas
Kickoff: 6:30 PM CT / 7:30 PM ET
Surface: Artificial turf
Capacity: ~40,000
Broadcast: ESPN (national)
Weather Outlook (early-week forecast)
Temperature at kickoff: ~84°F (29°C)
Conditions: Mostly clear skies, light southeast wind (5–8 mph)
Precipitation chance: <10%
Impact: Warm but favorable conditions — minimal wind disruption for passing/kicking games.
Injury & Availability Report
(Per team updates — monitor late-week reports)
Colorado: QB situation fluid — Kaidon Salter, Julian Lewis, and Ryan Staub have all seen snaps; Staub impressed vs. Delaware (157 yds, 2 TD). RBs Simeon Price & Micah Welch healthy; WR Sincere Brown (120 yds, 1 TD) leads receiving corps. K Alejandro Mata perfect on the year.
Houston: QB Conner Weigman healthy (347 yds, 4 TD, 0 INT through two games). RB Dean Connors (182 yds, 2 TD) and WR Tanner Koziol (115 yds, 1 TD) available. No major defensive injuries reported.
Recent Form
Colorado Buffaloes:
L 27–20 vs. Georgia Tech — offense inconsistent, defense allowed 200+ rush yds.
W 31–7 vs. Delaware — balanced attack, defense forced multiple turnovers.
Strength: Turnover margin (+5, 4th in FBS), red-zone efficiency (100%).
Concern: Run defense (202 rush ypg allowed, 122nd in FBS).
Houston Cougars:
W 35–9 vs. Rice — defense dominant (186 total yds allowed), Connors rushed for 132 yds, 2 TD.
W 27–13 vs. UTSA — defense held opponent under 250 total yds.
Strength: Elite pass defense (78 pass ypg allowed, 3rd in FBS), scoring defense (4.5 ppg, 4th in FBS).
Concern: Passing offense ranks 104th nationally (170 ypg).
Series History
All-time: Colorado leads 1–0.
Last Meeting: 1971 — Colorado won 29–17 in Houston.
Trend: First meeting in 54 years; first as Big 12 opponents.
Key Player Matchups
QB Play:
Colorado: Decision on starter TBD; Staub offers efficiency, Salter mobility, Lewis arm talent.
Houston: Weigman steady, mistake-free, complemented by strong run game.
Ground Game:
Colorado: Price/Welch duo averaging 4.8 YPC combined.
Houston: Connors averaging 7.0 YPC; big-play threat.
Defensive Edge:
Houston’s secondary vs. Colorado WRs — Cougars’ pass D is top-5 nationally; Brown is Buffs’ deep threat.
Betting Trends
Houston is 2-0 ATS in 2025; defense has allowed just 9.0 ppg.
Colorado is 1-1 ATS; both games have gone Under the total.
Houston is 6-2 ATS in last 8 home games.
Colorado is 4-1 ATS in last 5 road games vs. ranked or favored opponents.
Game Odds
Colorado Buffaloes 43.5
Houston Cougars – 5.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Thursday, September 11, 2025
