If you think the hype surrounding Deion "Prime" Sanders' first season at Colorado is heavy now, just wait until if the Buffaloes pull the shocker of Week 1 and beat national runner-up TCU.
Is it likely to happen? Nah. Not as bad as Colorado was a season ago, don't bank on it. Also, coach Sonny Dykes' Horned Frogs gave us one of the best storybook runs of the past decade until they ran into a red-and-black buzzsaw in the national championship game.
But this is two ridiculously different teams than the ones that took the field a season ago, and that uncertainty makes the game one you have to circle as a potential upset possibility. Vegas certainly doesn't think so, though, by looking at the line.
TCU has a new quarterback in Chandler Morris, but he's one who everybody expected to lead the way a season ago until veteran Max Duggan made his Heisman Trophy run. Losing him, running back Kendre Miller and receiver Quentin Johnston is going to really hurt offensive continuity. Key defensive pieces left, too.
Sanders, meanwhile, flipped the roster. His son, Shedeur, came with him from Jackson State to play quarterback, and defensive backs Travis Hunter and Cormani McClain are as talented of a tandem as any in the nation.
Few give the Buffs a chance, and yes, it's a long shot. But it's a marquee game, and with so many unknowns, watch out. Nobody possibly could know what to think about this one enough to make TCU a three-touchdown favorite.
