BYU vs. Colorado State Prediction, Betting Pick, Latest CFB Odds for Saturday, September 19th
The No. 11 BYU Cougars take their first road trip of the season to face an unbeaten Colorado State team that has transformed immediately under Jim Mora. Can Hauss Hejny and the Rams' explosive new offense continue producing against Bear Bachmeier and a BYU defense that shut out Arizona after halftime last week? Check out this BYU vs. Colorado State prediction and best bet for Saturday, September 19.
Peter Alexis - September 19, 2026, 4:30 PM EDT
5 Minute ReadBYU vs. Colorado State Prediction: Can Rams Compete with Bear Bachmeier, Cougars on Saturday Night?
No. 11 BYU visits Canvas Stadium for a 7:30 PM ET kickoff on CBS, with both teams entering at 2-0. The Cougars are favored by 17.5 points after beating Utah Tech and Arizona, while Colorado State has already surpassed expectations with convincing victories over Wyoming and Southern Utah.
BYU brings the established program baseline after winning 12 games last season, but Colorado State looks dramatically different from the team that finished 2-10 in 2025. Hejny has accounted for 10 touchdowns in two games, and the Rams have scored 93 points under their first-year coaching staff.
BYU vs. Colorado State Recent Results
BYU Cougars (2-0), (1-0 Big 12)
BYU opened with a 63-7 destruction of Utah Tech, forcing four turnovers and getting contributions throughout the roster. It was the type of comfortable opener expected from a team coming off a 12-win season and returning Bachmeier after his Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year campaign.
The Cougars faced a much more serious test against Arizona and won 28-17 after trailing at halftime. Bachmeier completed 16 of 26 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing score, and BYU's defense shut Arizona out over the final two quarters. Bachmeier has already accounted for eight touchdowns without throwing an interception through the first two games.
Colorado State Rams (2-0), (0-0 Pac-12)
Colorado State opened the Mora era with a 35-13 rivalry win over Wyoming in front of a record crowd at Canvas Stadium. Hejny threw five touchdown passes in only his second collegiate start, completing 23 of 33 passes for 214 yards while the Rams forced three interceptions.
The offense became even more explosive against Southern Utah. Colorado State won 58-24 behind 325 passing yards from Hejny and 171 rushing yards from Mel Brown, building a 48-21 halftime advantage. Hejny now has nine touchdown passes, 539 passing yards, 124 rushing yards and only one turnover through two starts this season.
Colorado State went only 2-10 overall and 1-7 in the Mountain West last season, but the personnel and coaching structure have changed dramatically as the program enters its first year in the rebuilt Pac-12.
BYU vs. Colorado State Head to Head
BYU leads the all-time series 39-27-3 and has won seven consecutive meetings. These former conference rivals have not played since 2010, however, making most of the recent series history largely irrelevant to the current rosters.
- November 13, 2010: BYU 49, Colorado State 10
- September 26, 2009: BYU 42, Colorado State 23
- November 1, 2008: BYU 45, Colorado State 42
- November 3, 2007: BYU 35, Colorado State 16
The last meeting was a complete mismatch, with BYU producing 526 yards in a 49-10 win at Fort Collins. Sixteen years have passed since then, and Colorado State's current roster is essentially beginning a new era, so the more useful angle is BYU making its first road trip against a team that has already created significant home-field energy.
BYU vs. Colorado State Date, Time, Where to Watch
- Date: Saturday, September 19th, 2026
- Time: 7:30 PM ET
- Location: Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins, CO
- How to Watch: CBS
BYU vs. Colorado State Odds
- Spread: BYU -17.5 (-105), Colorado State +17.5 (-115)
- Total Points: Over 52.5 (-108), Under 52.5 (-112)
- Moneyline: BYU (-950), Colorado State (+625)
Click here for the latest BYU vs. Colorado State Odds
BYU vs. Colorado State Line Movement and Betting Splits
This spread has made a significant move toward Colorado State. BYU opened around -20.5 before dropping through 20 and 18 to the current -17.5, while the total has ticked upward from approximately 51.5 to 52.5.
The three-point spread adjustment is difficult to ignore because it has happened despite BYU winning its first two games by 56 and 11 points. The market has instead shown increased respect for Colorado State's 2-0 start, particularly after Hejny followed his five-touchdown opener with another explosive performance in Week 2.
BYU vs. Colorado State Prediction
BYU is unquestionably the more proven team. Bachmeier started every game of a 12-2 season as a true freshman, threw for more than 3,000 yards and added 527 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. He now looks more comfortable reading defenses before the snap while operating behind an experienced offensive line.
The Cougars also have the defensive front needed to disrupt Colorado State's explosive start. Tausili Akana had 2.5 sacks against Arizona, including multiple late pressure plays that helped shut down the Wildcats, and BYU did not allow a second-half point. That is a significant step up from the Wyoming and Southern Utah defenses Hejny has faced.
Still, Colorado State's offense has shown enough versatility to make 17.5 points attractive. Hejny is completing 65% of his passes, has thrown nine touchdowns and can punish man coverage with his legs. Brown gives the Rams a legitimate rushing threat after producing 171 yards against Southern Utah, meaning BYU cannot simply turn the game into a pure pass-rush contest.
The concern is Colorado State's defense. Southern Utah scored 21 first-half points and produced explosive runs, and BYU has considerably more size along the offensive line. LJ Martin and Bachmeier give the Cougars a physical running combination capable of controlling possession if the Rams cannot consistently win on early downs.
But this wager does not require Colorado State to stop BYU for four quarters. The Rams need enough defensive possessions to keep the margin below three touchdowns, and the offense is already operating at a level capable of providing 17 to 24 points at home. A 35-20 BYU win would look comfortable without covering 17.5.
BYU is also leaving Provo for the first time this season. Colorado State has already played twice at Canvas Stadium, including a rivalry opener that drew a program-record crowd, and the Rams have looked comfortable in Mora's system immediately. The gap in program quality remains real, but home field becomes more valuable when backing an underdog receiving this many points.
The movement from +20.5 to +17.5 confirms that the original number was viewed as too large. It would have been preferable to grab Colorado State above 20, but 17.5 still clears the key 17-point margin and protects a 17-point BYU victory. With Hejny's ability to create explosives and BYU facing its first road environment, the Rams have enough offense to keep the final margin manageable.
BYU vs. Colorado State Best Bet
- Best Bet: Colorado State +17.5 (-115) Check out these best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
BYU should still control stretches of this game with its offensive line and defense, but Colorado State has shown too much offensive improvement to treat it like last year's 2-10 roster. Hejny has produced immediately, Brown gives the Rams balance and Canvas Stadium provides a genuine home-field element for BYU's first road test.
The spread has already dropped three points toward Colorado State, and the current number still asks BYU to win by three scores against an unbeaten opponent averaging 46.5 points. BYU can remain in control throughout and still leave the Rams inside the number. A 34-20 type of result fits the matchup.
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